Tools for Engaging Online Learners
- 1. Importance of Tools • Effective online classes include strategic course designs and tools used to engage students. • Efficient and appropriately incorporated technology can enhance student engagement and participation throughout an online course. • “Without intentional engagement of students, little, if any, learning will take place.” – The Quarterly Review of Distance Education
- 2. Benefits These online tools are : – Efficient – Free or low cost – Easy to use – Provide rich experiences – Engaging – Ways for students to construct knowledge
- 3. Communication Tools • Tools are engaging elements that enhance learning in online instruction. • Establish a clear communication plan for your students. • Set guidelines and expectations • Evaluate tools
- 4. Blogs • Student posts can include: short essays in response to readings, brief interviews with experts, reviews of artwork, etc. • Personal Blogs create a means for student‟s to voice his or her opinions. • Creates an open discussion between peers and instructor • Learn to write for a wider audience • Instructors can summarize lessons • Younger students are engaged by blogs more than discussion boards
- 5. Social-Networking Sites • Facebook, Twitter, and Edmodo • Younger generations enjoy being on these sites. • Provide up-to-date course information • Establish a common bond between students and instructor. Ex: Hash tags, photos
- 6. Edmodo Example • Edmodo is beneficial for educators • A social-networking, educational website that calls for student interaction and learning. • Beneficial tool to engage learners http://www.edmodo.com/home http://network.laxpower.com/laxforum/viewto pic.php?f=12&t=1842
- 7. Skype • Communication through voice, video, text, simultaneous editing, and immediate feedback. • Online support available if needed • User friendly • It is a free download http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50- awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the- classroom/
- 8. Communication Tools • Technological tools promote learner- centered engagement as well as peer interaction. • The tools can help connect teachers with their colleagues, department chairs, and other administrative resources in further quality, just-in-time faculty development. • Other good communication devices that are simple to use include: Back Channel Chat, ooVoo, Google Talk, Podcasts.
- 9. PRESENTATION TOOLS • Nonlinguistic representations, graphic organizers, note taking, and setting goals/objectives are ways to effectively utilize presentation tools.
- 10. Prezi • Tool to create presentations. • Webbed presentations which are non- linear. • Can include pictures, videos, hyperlinks, and more. • Engaging projects that promote creativity • One can create a free account Example: Great Jazz Bassists and their Influence through the Ages http://prezi.com/uh_7jvp0ykpf/great-jazz- bassists-and-their-influence-through-the- ages/
- 11. ZoomIt • Instructor can „zoom in‟ on screen • It allows the user to: – Use the Control to zoom into the screen – Turn the mouse into a marker – Annotate – Put a timer on the screen • Works only with Windows • Free download
- 12. Glogster • Students can create book reviews, digital posters, topic explorations, use video, graphics, and text • Educators and students can express themselves in unique ways • Learners can interact in multi-sensory environments • Upload sounds, videos, pictures, utilize accent images, • Can name and publish Glogs • One can create a free account
- 13. Online Interactive Learning Tools • Enhances learning opportunities • Engages students • Should not be used to replace teacher but as a tool to spark learning • Free/low-cost but high-quality information
- 14. Animation Evaluation (Lamb & Johnson, 2006) • Does the animation contribute to the effectiveness of the project? • Does the user have control over the animation sequence or speed? • Does animation attract rather than distract users? • Is animation used in meaningful ways?
- 15. Animation Examples • “The Labs” at the Building Big website – http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/index.h tml
- 16. Interaction Evaluation (Lamb & Johnson, 2006) • Does the interaction contribute to the effectiveness of the project? • Does the interaction provide levels of access or control to address individual needs? • Do interactive elements function effectively? • Do interactive elements contribute to understanding rather than confusion? • Is the result of interaction clear and effective?
- 17. Interaction Examples • Simulations: – Monterey Bay Aquarium (Make a Tide Pool) • http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/lc/kids_pla ce/tidepool/tidepool.asp • Gaming: – U.S. Dept of Agriculture MyPlate BlastOff Game • http://www.fns.usda.gov/multimedia/Games/Blast off/BlastOff_Game.html • Tutorials: – Edheads- Virtual Knee Surgery • http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/swf/index. htm
- 18. Multimedia Evaluation (Lamb & Johnson, 2006) • Does the multimedia contribute to the effectiveness of the project? • Are media attributes used effectively without being distracting? • Do the media elements address alternative learning styles? • Were media elements clear and easy to understand and interpret?
- 19. Multimedia Examples • Arts Alive Canada – http://www.artsalive.ca/en/ • Arizona Opera • Dallas Symphony • San Francisco Symphony
- 20. Putting It All Together • “A Dancer‟s Journal” from the Kennedy Center • National Zoo in Washington, D.C. – http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/Conservatio nCentral/design/daph_broadband.htm
- 21. More Resources • Quizlet • Google Resources • BrainPop & BrainPOP Jr. (not all are free) • National Geographic • PBS • Discovery • Scholastic • NASA **An easy way to find National Geographic” and add the word flash or interactive
- 22. Collaboration Tools •Should allow for anytime access •Often owned by a third-party company (ie. Dropbox, Flikr, etc.) •May require download or a fee •Ease of use allows for an opportunity for sharing information •Contributes a social element to the learning experience
- 23. Google Drive • Allows individuals to store docs online • Able to share with peers or keep private • Peers able to view may also edit • May use documents, spreadsheets, forms, or presentations – Variety of formats available: DOC, XLS, CSV, ODT, PDF, RTF, and HTML • Allows for organization through folders and drag/drop options
- 24. More Resources • Doodle, Meeting Wizard – Online schedular • Lino, MyStickies, Corkboard.me, Primary Wall – Online sticky note service • Post memos, to-do lists, ideas, videos, and photos
- 25. Resources • Boulos, Maged, Inocencio Maramba, and Steve Wheeler. "Wikis, Blogs, and Podcasts: A New Generation of Web- Based Tools for Virtual Collaborative Clinical Practice and Education." BMC Medical Education 6.41 (2006). • Hargis, Jace and Wilcox, Michelle S. Ubiquitous, Free, and Efficent Online Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE October 2008, Vol 9, Number 4 • Lamb, Annette, and Larry Johnson. "Flash: Engaging Learners Through Animation, Interaction, and Multimedia." Teacher Librarian 33.4 (April 2006): 54- 56.
- 26. Resources • Meloni, Julie. Technologies for Teaching: Strategies and Pitfalls. Chronicle of Higher Education; 11/5/2010, Vol. 57 Issue 11, pB22. • Revere, Lee and Kovach, Jamison V. Online Technologies For Engaged Learning: A Meaningful Synthesis for Educators. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, Vol 12(2), 2011, pp. 113-124.