WebEnhancing Your Courses Faith Brenner IT Associate Professor

Web-Enhancing Your Courses Faith Brenner IT Associate Professor Richland Community College Jill Feinstein Biology Associate Professor Richland Community College

Web-Enhancing Your Courses Learn how to use the World Wide Web to provide your students with additional learning resources and give them interactive learning activities they can access through the Internet. This workshop will show you what resources are available for webenhancing your class, the types of resources and activities you may want to put on the Web to supplement your face-to-face classroom, and discuss the benefits for you and your students of web-enhancing your class. You will specifically learn about the use of learning objects in your classroom. It will show you what learning objects may already be available for you to use, how to make simple reusable learning objects using tools that are readily available, and how learning objects can enhance the your student's learning.

What is a Web-Enhanced Course? A course that has part of its components delivered via the Internet n Can range of the use of supplemental sources online to delivering major content and assessments online n Makes use of the technology that is now readily available to most students n

Why Web Enhance Your Course? Helps engage students who are already using technology for social interactions n Addresses a variety of learning styles n Visual-verbal – reading/writing n Visual-nonverbal – using graphics, symbols, images n Auditory (aural) - listening n Kinesthetic/tactile – doing, experiencing, practicing n

What Can Be Offered Online? n. Online Communications n. Online Course Content n. Collaborative Activities n. Online Assessment

Web-Enhanced Courses – Possible Online Components n n Online Syllabus Online Communications n n n n Threaded Discussions Blogs Journals Chat Sessions E-mail Online Office Collaborative Workspaces n n Wikis Google Docs n Online Assessments n n Quizzes Exams Surveys Online Course Content n n Resource material Learning Objects n n n Audio files Video Demonstrations Animations Narration Simulations

Online Communications n n E-mail – most students are comfortable with this type of communication now Chat sessions – may be used for quick communication with one or more students in realtime (synchronous communication) while online n A number available through various hosts n n n AOL Instant Messenger MSN Messenger (now has audio chat capabilities) Skype (also VOIP for audio chats) Twitter Elluminate

Online Communications n Online Office Hours Can use any chat room facility n Elluminate V-Room n n Free 3 -person online conference room/office from Elluminate n Can be used for meeting with students online and online tutoring sessions n http: //www. elluminate. com/vroom/register. go

Online Communications n Threaded Discussions Also know as a discussion board n Allows students to post their responses to an assignment publicly and allows them to comment, respond, react to the posts of others n Designed for group discussions about particular topics n Any member can add a new topic or reply to a previous post n Create a threaded topic for a more traditional online discussion. n Users post and reply to messages. n Replies that are associated with the same post are grouped together, creating message threads that can be expanded and collapsed. n

Online Communication Blogs • Online shared journal in which a person post any topic and others can comment on those individual topics • Posting of new topics is usually limited to one person • Create a collaborative blog (weblog) space by allowing participants to post a chronological series of entries on a particular topic. • Participants can then add comments to any blog entry. Sources for Creating Blogs Blogger http: //www. blogger. com Edublogs http: //edublogs. org

Online Communication n Journals n n n Usually private, reflective posts to record reactions to the learning experience. Reflection journal can be a summary of what the student feels has been the most important points covered for a given instructional module and relate it to his/her own learning goals in the course. The reflection journal has three functions: n n n It helps the students reinforce and synthesize the material covered. Each student personalizes the material, adapting it to his/her own specific professional needs and goals. It gives insight to the instructor to understand what parts of the course have been effective and what may need to be taught in more depth or reinforced. A journal can also be used as a creative writing assignment by giving students a topic and using the journal as a place for their own writing. The journals can be kept private between the student and the instructor or shared with the class for peer review.

Collaborative Workspaces An online workspace where students can work on collaborative projects and activities asynchronously Wikis • A wiki is a type of computer software that allows users to easily create, edit and link web pages (Wikipedia definition); an edit history is kept so no content is lost as user make additions/changes to page • Examples • Wikispaces: http: //www. wikispaces. com/ • PBWiki: http: //pbwiki. com/ Google. Docs • Online documents that allow collaboration • Text documents, spreadsheets, drawings and diagrams, file sharing, presentations, calendars, photos

Online Assessment n n Self-Assessments – quizzes that are scored for the student, but not counted toward a grade; may be used to help student for a graded exam Quizzes – short assessments given online for a grade; most effective if set up so that it gives immediate feedback to student Surveys – polling tool Exams – online assessments that may be timed, can be set up to self-score and give immediate feedback to student; scores used to give grade to student

Online Assessment Many book publishers are now supplying “Test Banks” that can be used for developing tests. n Some have the ability to create online tests n Example – Exam. View n n Has the ability to create self-assessments, study sheets, paper exams, and online exams

Online Course Content n n n n n Online resources – supplemental Internet readings Written Text – chapter notes and outlines of text Power. Point Presentations Podcasts – audio lectures Video casts – video lectures and demonstrations Flash Movies – demonstrations and simulations Online Instructional Games Computer Simulations and Animations Learning Objects

Power. Point Presentations n n Easy to develop More effective as learning objects if they are narrated n n n Can be made to be interactive – example 1 example 2 Many templates available to create educational games using interactive Power. Points n n n n Power. Point has a built-in utility to add narration to a presentation http: //teach. fcps. net/trt 10/Power. Point. htm http: //www. internet 4 classrooms. com/on-line_powerpoint. htm http: //www. elainefitzgerald. com/gametemplates. htm http: //www. getworksheets. com/samples/powerpoint/games/index. html http: //homepages. ius. edu/dschwei 2/handouts/powerpt/gamelinks. htm http: //facstaff. uww. edu/jonesd/games/ Some of the games you can create with Power. Point templates are: n Jeopardy n Concentration n Wheel of Fortune n Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Podcasts (audio) n n n Develop a script Record the script using microphone and computer Can link to the audio file from a webpage – example : Welcome Students can download and use a multimedia player to listen to the podcast Audacity n Free, easy-to-use software for recording and editing sounds n http: //audacity. sourceforge. net/

Videos and Movies Video • Record a classroom lecture or a short “pre-lecture” video • Can use an inexpensive web cam to record to computer in format that can be link to a webpage and played on a multimedia player once download Flash movies and animations • Takes a little more skill to develop unless you have special software like Camtasia • http: //www. techsmith. com/camtasia. asp? CMP=Kmsn. CStmhome • Camtasia allows you to create flash movies by recording what is happening on your desktop • Examples of Camtasia use: • Flash movie demonstrations using screen capture – Swap Using Respondus • Flash movie using a narrated annotated Power. Point lecture - http: //www 2. richland. edu/jfeinste/biol 106/chp 02 a/biology 106_chp 0 2 a_fa 08. htm

Videocasts and Flash Movies § § Adobe Captivate § http: //www. adobe. com/products/captivate/ § Allows you to create simulations and scenariobased training by recording computer screen movement Microsoft Producer § Combines Power. Point Presentations with audio and video § MS Producer is a free plug-in for Power. Point § Example of Use

Instructional Games and Simulations § § Interactive Power. Points (previously mentioned) § Do Internet search on Power. Point games templates and you will find many resources available Source for making online games and simulations § § § http: //people. uncw. edu/ertzbergerj/msgames. htm http: //jc-schools. net/tutorials/gameboard. htm http: //www. georgetownisd. org/benold/hubamb/Links%20 to%2 0 Educational%20 Game%20 Templates. htm http: //www. murray. k 12. ga. us/teacher/kara%20 leonard/Mini%2 0 T's/Games. htm There are many resources available for games and simulations on the Internet – some already created and ready to use; others have templates to assist you in creating your own

Course Management Systems n Basically a virtual classroom, where all material and components can be organized. n n n Password-protected Has many utilities/tools for both instructor and students n n Post syllabus, handouts, assignments, class announcements, online discussions, online quizzes, etc. Password-protected gradebook and attendance records Some are costly; others are free Must have technical support to use Examples: n n n Angel Blackboard/Web. CT Moodle

Course Management System – A Closer Look at Angel Features n n n n Blogs, Wikis, Journals, Discussion Forums Password-Protected Grade book and Attendance Record/Roster Online quizzes, exams (can create or import from test banks) Surveys/polls Game and web page creation tools Student activity tracking E-mail and announcements Chat rooms and Live Office capabilities Instant messaging Learning Repository and Master Courses File management tools “Agents” for automating some functions Grading Rubric (to be improved in next version) that interacts with grade book Resource links Future Features – Electronic Student Portfolio and Outcomes Assessment

Alternatives to Course Management Systems n Course can be web-enhanced without the use of a course management system through the use of a faculty course website n n n Online Syllabi and links to resource materials can be made easily using a simple web page Some textbook publishing companies will allow instructors to set up online classes on their server They may also offer a online student companion website with their books to supplement the textbooks: http: //bcs. wiley. com/hebcs/Books? action=index&item. Id=0471689343&item. Type. Id=BKS&bcs. Id=2287

Learning Objects n n n Learning objects are a new way of thinking about learning content. Traditionally, content comes in a several hour chunk. Learning objects are much smaller units of learning, typically ranging from 2 minutes to 15 minutes. Are self-contained – each learning object can be taken independently Are reusable – a single learning object may be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes Can be aggregated – learning objects can be grouped into larger collections of content, including traditional course structures Are tagged with metadata – every learning object has descriptive information allowing it to be easily found by a search A detailed explanation of learning objects can be found at: http: //www. reusability. org/read/

Sources of Learning Objects – Create Your Own n Learning objects can be anything that you create for your students that they can use independently and which can be saved and reused – usually online. Examples (previously mentioned): n n n Power. Point Presentations (narrated and interactive) Podcasts (audio) Video Flash movies and animations Instructional games and simulations Possible Resources for Developing Online Resources and Learning Objects n n n n Audible Camtasia Adobe Dreamweaver & Flash MS Power. Point (ready-made and templates) MS Producer Adobe Captivate Course Management Systems Many free (or costly) resources can be found on the Internet to web-enhance courses

Sources of Learning Objects – Learning Object Repositories n WISC Online n n Merlot n n http: //www. merlot. org Quia n n http: //www. wisconline. org/ http: //www. quia. com Collections of Learning Objects n There are some other repositories out there, but the above are the main ones. With a Google search you can find other repositories and some of them are specific to a subject matter such as “medicine. ”

WISC Online http: //www. wisconline. org/ • Wisconsin Online Resource Center • Collection of learning objects searchable by topic categories • These are flash based instructional objects with introductions, instructions, opportunities for feedback and (often) results emailed to the facilitator for assessment. • Can create a username and password quickly. • Browse the various learning objects for multiple disciplines. • Notice that Wisc-Online has used a "template" learning object system that is "reusable. " In other words, they all look the same and operate pretty much the same. • They all are done as a SWF file which can be accessed through an internet browser through the Flash plug-in. In other words, it's immediately accessible online and downloadable for use in other curriculum. • Be careful though, some learning objects aren’t all that great, that is why they have a peer review area to rate the learning object.

Merlot http: //www. merlot. org • Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Teaching Online • Collection of learning materials, assignments, and activities searchable by topic • Create a membership quickly. • After you sign up, do a search for anything you want. See what you come up with to see how it works. • Get an idea of what they are and what people have done in the past. • Be careful though, some learning objects aren’t all that great, that is why they have a peer review area to rate the learning object.

QUIA http: //www. quia. com Create 16 types of games and learning activities: Matching game Flash cards Concentration game Word search puzzle Battleship Challenge board Columns activity Hangman game Jumbled words Ordered list activity Picture perfect activity Pop-ups Rags-to-riches game Scavenger hunt Cloze activity Patterns Create quizzes with 10 types of questions: Multiple choice True-false Pop-up Multiple correct Fill-in Initial answer Short answer Essay Matching Ordering

Learning Object Examples Window and Desktop Elements In this interactive object, learners identify the elements of the Windows platform in a drag-anddrop exercise. http: //www. wisconline. com/objects/index_tj. asp? obj. ID=IAT 1505 How To Send E-mail Learning Object for showing how to send e-mail http: //www. wisconline. com/objects/index_tj. asp? obj. ID=CIS 703

Learning Object Examples n Binary to Decimal Number Conversion This is a learning object to help you better understand how binary numbers can be converted to decimal numbers n http: //www. wisconline. com/objects/index_tj. asp? obj. ID=DIG 902 n n Binary to Decimal Number Drill Learning object to practice binary to decimal number conversions. n http: //www. wisconline. com/objects/index_tj. asp? obj. ID=DIG 6905 n

Learning Object Examples n EMT Basic Refresher n n Virtual Chemistry Lab n n http: //www. chemcollective. org/vlab. php DNA from the Beginning n n http: //www. wisc-online. com/objects/index_tj. asp? obj. ID=EMS 806 http: //www. dnaftb. org/dnaftb/ Control Structures Instructional Games n n n Match Game Flash Cards Identification

Wrap UP – Why Web-Enhance Your Courses? Because students expect more technology in their learning environment, even in a “traditional” classroom n Take advantage of the technology students are already familiar with or using n Future Virtual Classrooms – Second Life? ? n Video – A Vision of Students Today n n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=d. GCJ 46 vy. R 9 o

Questions? For a copy of this Power. Point presentation with all links, go to: http: //people. richland. edu/fbrenner/webenhancecourse. html