Web-Based Courses

Web-Based Courses: Getting Started

BYTE CONFERENCEFebruary 25th, 2011

Donald Girouard (Distance Learning Consultant)

Howard Griffith (eLearning Development Consultant)

Introductions

• What has been your experience with Distance

and Online Learning?

Web-Based Courses (WBCs)

• Overview of Distance Learning Models• Look at who might want to use WBCs & why?• What is involved in WBC development?• How can teachers get access to WBCs?• New things coming for WBCs• Supports for teachers using WBCs• What does a WBC look like? (demo)

• Contact information and links.

Distance Learning Delivery Models used in Manitoba

• Face-to-face (f2f) teaching• IITV or Web Conferencing 2-way video and

audio (modified f2f)• Web-Based Course Option (teacher guided)• Teacher Mediated Option (teacher mediated)• Independent Study Option (tutor marker)• Best models tend to use blended approaches

F2F ISOWBCmore student - student and student - teacher interaction less

IITV/Video TMO

More Information on Distance Learning

Manitoba Education supports three Distance Learning Options:

• Web-Based Course Option:

• Teacher Mediated Option:

• Independent Study Option:

http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/

So Why Web-Based Courses?

Some Scenarios?

Group share and talk

• Who needs Web-Based Courses? Why?

or• How (where) might they be used to support

student learning?

Reasons for taking courses online?

• interest in alternative methods of learning and earning credits

• resolve timetabling issues / provide flexibility• implementation of new curricula/courses• use WBCs to fill in some gaps

(enrichment/remediation)

• preparing students for lifelong learning• teacher availability, especially in specialized

areas (ex. Mathematics, Science, and French)

2010 WBC Stats (Aug 1st to Dec 31st )

• 50 web-based courses available• ~ 1440 active sections – 525 with students

– 680 with just teachers• ~ 3800 student registrations – active users• ~ 1160 teachers registered – 774 active users

• stats change everyday

2010 WBCRS Stats (Aug 1st to Dec 31st )

• 251 requests to use WBC with distance learners

• 544 requests to use WBC with face-to-face class

• 824 requests to use WBC as a teacher resource only

(data may not be accurate as this is a voluntary input)

• stats change everyday

Why Does Manitoba Education Develop Web-

Based Courses?

• To support learners• To support teachers and schools• To provide content that is congruent with

Manitoba curriculum• To reflect good instructional pedagogy and

authentic assessment strategies

Supporting Student Engagement in WBCs

• Discussions and review of existing WBCs• Addition of new design concepts and tools:

– more interactivity/inquiry– alternative solutions and explanations– more student helps– reflective journaling– teacher guided class discussions– more web resources

What does a WBC look like?

Web-Based Course Design

Course desig

n could be m

essy!

Web-Based Course Design

• Teacher facilitated and supported learning• designed to have a teacher engaged with students

• Curricular Outcomes supported with:• Content• Learning Activities

– (inquiries, reflections, discussions)

• sound instructional Pedagogy & Assessment Strategies

• blended into Learning Experiences• organized to create Modules

What does a Web-Based Course look like?

How To Preview a WBC?public access available

http://webct.merlin.mb.ca

login as demo (username)demo (password)

The previews are limited versions of Web-Based

Courses

What is the WBCRS?

• Web Based Course Request System

• teachers can get full access to any WBC

http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

Support & Training for WBCs

• scheduled live workshops• scheduled webinars• webinar on demand, one-on-one support• Online Community

– tutorials, tips & tricks– guides, documents, web links– sharing alternative links for dead sites– recorded webinars and other resources

• Email & phone supporthttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/training_workshops.html

What’s on the horizon?

• New courses in developmenthttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html

• New version of Blackboard– more teacher tools to support student learning.

• Wimba collaboration tools• built-in tools for communication/collaboration

– easier to navigate interface

More Information Needed?

• Web-Based Course Availability:www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/coursesfordelivery.html

• Web-Based Course Development:www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html

• Accessing a WBC as a teacher:http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

• Other resources can be found at:Blackboard: WBC Teacher’s Online Community

http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/WBC_Resources

Support for Web-Based Courses

• Howard Griffith – eLearning Development Consultant, Learning Support & Technology Unit

howard.griffith@gov.mb.ca• Donald Girouard – Consultant for Distance Learning

WBC, Distance Learning Unit (Winkler)donald.girouard@gov.mb.ca

• Denis Myers – WBC Support Specialist, Distance Learning Unit (Winkler)

denis.myers@gov.mb.ca

Questions??

What does a Web-Based Course look like?

Modular Course Design

Discussions, Blogs, Journals

Communication: Discussions

Communication: Email

Communication: Calendar• public or private entries

Assignments

Assignment Dropbox

Assessment: Tests

• multiple choice• matching• short answer• paragraph

Thank You!