Online Learning

For this next post I have to talk about how I could use one of the technologies that qualify as an online experience with my students.

I have to say that I've never designed a complete online course, but I have been a great fan of blended learning for three years now. I'm used to using Course Management Systems (CMS) or Learning Management Systems (LMS) as a fundamental part of my Computer Science classes and as repositories for different types of resources for EdTech integration for my teachers.


What content could this help you teach?

Online resources can be a great help for learning new concepts. You can rely on all the types of multimedia to aid student's understanding. In my particular subject, Computer Science, online learning helps me to teach the theoretical part of the course so I can focus on the practical part in class, where students apply the new concepts to solve actual problems in a creative way.

As Technology Coordinator, online learning has allowed me to create courses where I can put EdTech resources in an ordered manner for my teachers according to their subject and grade level. These online courses sometimes include forums, surveys and wikis which help me receive feedback from them and improve what I’m doing.

What type of pedagogical strategies might you use with your students?

Non-lingustic representations: Online learning can give you so many choices of how to represent different concepts! From charts, concept maps, animations, presentations, podcasts, timelines, etc.

Objectives and feedback: I really like to put my objectives, calendar and rubrics on my online courses. They can be a very good guide to help students in their learning process. I also like to include surveys and forums to get some feedback from my students and tell me if they are getting the class.

Cooperative learning: It is really easy to collaborate online with all the new Web applications available. Students really enjoy learning with others and I find it very interesting when it's with students from other schools or countries.

What technologies do you think would be harder to use with your students? Why?

When it comes to online learning the biggest problem is that there are still some teachers and students that don't have Internet access at home. Another disadvantage is that we aren't a 1:1 school for the moment, in some cases all of the computers are being used so Real-time Online learning would not be as effective because many would be left out.

I also think that making podcasts or videocasts would be harder to implement, mostly because culturally we are not used to broadcasting ourselves. Also many don't want to participate in these kinds of media because of security reasons.

Educational gaming could also become a challenge for my Elementary School students, since most of the good games are in English and they still don't feel that comfortable with the second language as the older kids do.

Wikipedia troubles

It looks like they might remove my Wikipedia page after all... It appears that I have to add more content to the page or it won't be considered an encyclopedia article. I added some more text, I wonder if it's enough for my page to survive!

The wiki wiki twist

For my Wiki Lab assignment I had to add my school to Wikipedia. Let me tell you, it has been a challenge! Since I work for a private school, it seems that I can't add the page without being labeled as propaganda or publicity. So I decided to write about the non-profit organization that administrates my school and six others. It seems the Spanish speaking folks at Wikipedia had no problem with this, so my page for the moment hasn't been removed, hooray! You can find my screenshot below:

I've also created my own Wiki in Wikispaces: http://angie4edtech.wikispaces.com/

This was a lot more simple than adding the page in Wikipedia. I've already invited some members to my Wiki and plan to keep working on it as a place to share EdTech ideas with my technology team.

Applying the UDL Guideles

"Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all."

Using the next UDL checklist I will identify the features and barriers in my Goal-directed Instructional Design Plan for one of my CS Lessons. View Lesson

I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation

1. Provide options for perception = Feature: Using Moodle and adding different types of digital media resources will allow students to customize the display of information and also provide auditory and visual alternatives for information.

1.1 Customize the display of information

1.2 Provide alternatives for auditory information

1.3 Provide alternatives for visual information

2. Provide options for language and symbols = Feature: A glossary block could be added to the course to define vocabulary and illustrate key concepts non-liguistically.

2.1 Define vocabulary and symbols

2.2 Clarify syntax and structure

2.3 Decode text or mathematical notation

2.4 Promote cross-linguistic understanding

2.5 Illustrate key concepts non-linguistically

3. Provide options for comprehension = Feature: Adding lesson modules can help guide the information proscessing and support memory and transfer. Barrier: It will be more challenging to incorporate resources that highlight big ideas and relationships.

3.1 Provide or activate background knowledge

3.2 Highlight critical features, big ideas, and relationships

3.3 Guide information processing

3.4 Support memory and transfer

II. Provide Multiple Means of Action and Expression

4. Provide options for physical action =  Barrier: There are limited ways for the students to respond or interact with the materials.

4.1 Provide varied ways to respond

4.2 Provide varied ways to interact with materials

4.3 Integrate assistive technologies

5. Provide options for expressive skills and fluency = Feature: Glogster allows students many choices of media for communication and with Moodle you can provide ways to scaffold practice and performance.

5.1 Allow choices of media for communication

5.2 Provide appropriate tools for composition and problem solving

5.3 Provide ways to scaffold practice and performance

6. Provide options for executive functions = Feature: Moodle offers some options for executive functions. 

6.1 Guide effective goal setting

6.2 Support planning and strategy development

6.3 Facilitate managing information and resources

6.4 Enhance capacity for monitoring progress

III. Provide Multiple Means of Engagement

7. Provide options for recruiting interest = Barrier: The lesson provides limited choices of user profiles that may not be relevant to all students.

7.1 Increase individual choice and autonomy

7.2 Enhance relevance, value and authenticity

7.3 Reduce threats and distractions

8. Provide options for sustaining effort and persistence = Feature: There are many ways to foster collaboration and communication. Barrier: The lesson doesn't describe  levels of challenge and support of how to increase mastery-oriented feedback.

8.1 Heighten salience of goals and objectives

8.2 Vary levels of challenge and support

8.3 Foster collaboration and communication

8.4 Increase mastery-oriented feedback

9. Provide options for self-regulation = Feature: Students can use their Glog to develop self-assessment and reflection. 

9.1 Guide personal goal-setting and expectations

9.2 Scaffold coping skills and strategies

9.3 Develop self-assessment and reflection