Implementing E-Learning Solutions

1. Implementing E-Learning Solutions Week 5 Assignment Chandra Wilson EDU697: Capstone: A Project Approach Dr. Phillip Orlando May 27, 2013

2. Redesign • This redesign was taken from my EDU655: Trends & Issues Inst. Design & Tech. Online Learning course. It was Week 3 Assignment 1. The title of the assignment was Supporting Learning and Leadership with Technology. • The reason I chose this assignment was because it breaks down many different types of technology that can be used during e-learning. • Program Learning Outcome 8 “demonstrate the ability to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of learning and leadership”. • As an online instructor, it’s important to have an understanding of the technologies available to you, so you can choose the one that best fits your lessons.

3. Redesign Challenge • The challenge of this redesign was figuring out what past assignment to use. PLO 8 is difficult only because there really isn’t a right or wrong way to go about it. Almost every assignment used throughout the MATLT program has a different type of technology associated with it. You, as an instructor and leader of your classroom, needs to have an understanding of your students, and know what technologies will be received well and which will not.

4. Overview • Define E-Learning • Varieties of E-Learning • Collaboration and Related Tools • Ways Learners Can Communicate, Collaborate and Interact • The Role of Instructional Design Models • Leveraging Technology to Enhance Learning • Best Practices for Media Use • Ways to Manage Virtual Courses • Ways to Best Teach in a Virtual Classroom • Conclusion • References

5. Define E-Learning • “E-learning is the use of electronic technologies to create learning experiences.” (Horton, pg 1, 2012) • E-learning is also known as on-line learning (Newby et al, 2011)

6. Varieties of E-Learning • Standalone Courses • Self-paced courses learned without teacher interaction • Learning Games and Simulations • Learning by using simulated activities or through games • Mobile Learning • Learning while moving through the world with phones or tablet type devices • Social Learning • Learning through social interactions • Virtual-Classroom Courses • Online courses structured like a traditional classroom, but in the virtual world

7. Collaboration and Related Tools • Collaboration is where groups get together and brainstorm • Collaboration can include collecting data to help make decisions, to better a product, or even just to brainstorm ideas • Tools that are related to e-learning include: • Blogs • Blogs are online web-logs • They can be used to journal, publish assignments, or give real-time updates on what is happening in the classroom (Richardson, 2010) • Wikis • Wikis are site collaborations • They can be used as a data collection point • Individuals can upload information into the site, so that the rest of the group can see what they have acquired (Richardson, 2010)

8. Collaboration and Related Tools Cont. • Audio/Video Casting • These are sites that have information uploaded as sound recordings or videos, making it easy to distribute information quickly throughout the web (Richardson, 2010) • Social Media • Sites such as Twitter and Facebook allow users to upload photos, status updates, calendar events, as well as see what other users are posting • These sites allow real-time information sharing (Richardson, 2010)

9. Ways Learners Can Communicate, Collaborate and Interact • There are several ways learners can communicate, collaborate, and interact • They include: • E-mail • Classroom discussion forums • School Café forum • Ask your instructor forum • Social media • Wikis

10. The Role of Instructional Design Models • Instructional design models play a big role in e-learning • They are the foundation of how a curriculum is built and everything that is to be included in it • The cycle isn’t just a straight line, it allows the instructor to start building, as well as go back and adjust when necessary (Horton, 2012)

11. Leveraging Technology to Enhance Learning • Learning can be enhanced by incorporating technology • Almost every student in the US has either a cell phone, computer, tablet, access to the internet, etc; why not capitalize on their use of technology and incorporate it into the classroom to make learning fun? • By including things that engage our students, in this case technology, students become more interested in the material being taught • Also, by asking the students what is interesting to them and incorporating those ideas, they are more apt to want to learn the information

12. Best Practices for Media Use • E-mail • E-mail is used on a daily basis by many students. Whether it’s personal or required by their job, it is a great way to reach out and touch someone, to disseminate information, or to retrieve information. • E-mail is by far the most used form of communication available

13. Best Practices for Media Use Cont. • Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin • There aren’t many people left that don’t have one of the above mentioned accounts • Facebook and Twitter are designed for personal use, and Linkedin is designed for business connections • All are great forms for connecting with other people to give and receive information

14. Best Practices for Media Use Cont. • Wikis • Wikis are a wonderful way to collaborate information • One of the most popular wikis is Wikipedia. It’s an online encyclopedia of anything and everything you might want to know about • Although students are not allowed to reference Wikipedia, it’s a good place to start when researching a topic • Companies or schools can create their own wikis • Students can collaborate on group projects or class assignments and have the ability for one-stop-shopping for information

15. Ways to Manage Virtual Courses • As a student, it’s important not to take on too much at one time • When you are taking multiple courses on the same subject information can get jumbled and confusing • If you are going to take more than one course at a time, it’s advised to take them in different subjects to avoid confusion • Print out the syllabus at the beginning of the course • Stay organized • What is due, on what days, at what time • Don’t procrastinate • Plan for the unexpected • Emergencies • Internet outages • School web-site beingdown • Sickness • Keep contact information handy for your instructor and possibly a few students

16. Ways to Best Teach in a Virtual Classroom • Teaching in a virtual classroom is different than a traditional classroom • Teachers must have knowledge of online forums • They need to know how to use and set-up collaboration sites, wikis, and social networking sites • Teachers need to know how to use and teach new software • They need to be understanding oftheir students’ needs • Time differences • Questions • Internet outages • Most students have careers and families to attend to as well as school • How students learn and what their learning barriers are

17. Ways to Best Teach in a Virtual Classroom Cont. • Teachers in a virtual classroom have different tools and techniques they can use that differ from a traditional classroom • There isn’t a need for handwritten assignments • Everything is done electronically • You have to rely on the internet to teach as well as receive assignments from students • There isn’t a personal connection like the one received in a brick and mortar classroom • Face-to-face interaction almost never happens • To be a teacher in a virtual classroom, you have to be accessible to your students and help them through the learning process as much as possible

18. Conclusion • In conclusion, the following items were covered in this assignment: • Define E-Learning • Varieties of E-Learning • Collaboration and Related Tools • Ways Learners Can Communicate, Collaborate and Interact • The Role of Instructional Design Models • Leveraging Technology to Enhance Learning • Best Practices for Media Use • Ways to Manage Virtual Courses • Ways to Best Teach in a Virtual Classroom • Knowing which technology to use, and how to implement them into your classroom, will assist you in making informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of learning and leadership

19. References • Horton, W. (2012). E-Learning by Design (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. • Newby, T. J., Stepich, D. A., Lehman, J. D., Russell, J. D., & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A. (2011). Educational technology for Teaching and Learning (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc • Reiser, R. & Dempsey, J. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. • Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.