Innovative Techniques and Emerging Issues Confronting
Classroom Teaching
R. Elaine Turner, PhDUniversity of Florida
Introduction
• My Background– Teach introductory and life cycle
nutrition• Large lecture, small honors, online
– Development of additional online courses• Graduate elective• Corporate training
– Undergraduate Coordinator– Extension Specialist
CSREES/SERD Funded Projects
• Three Themes– Infusion of technology– Hands-on; experiential learning– Collaborative; multi-disciplinary
learning
Technology in Teaching
• Have we reached a “tipping point” in online education?
• Suggestive Signals– Number and pattern of online
enrollments– Ratio of online:campus enrollments– Investment in infrastructure
Technology in Teaching: Sloan Consortium Survey
• Online Enrollments– 1.9 m. in Fall 2003– 2.6 m. in Fall 2004
• Perceived Student Satisfaction
Technology in Teaching: Sloan Consortium Survey
• Strategic Role of Online Learning• Perceived Quality of Online
Courses
Technology in Teaching
• Institutional Investment– Course Management Systems
Technology in Teaching
• Will online education become the dominant mode of learning?
Technology in Teaching
• High-Touch to Balance High-Tech
Technology in Teaching
• Enhancements for Teaching/Learning– Simulations, case studies– Access to remote labs, instruments,
experts– Tracking student work– Organizing and archiving portfolios– Sharing ideas and success stories
Experiential Learning
• Learn by Doing• Experiential Learning Models
Experiential Learning
• Development of Thinking Skills– Critical thinking – Creative thinking– Thinking like a professional
Experiential Learning
• Development of Thinking Skills– Modeling the process
Collaborative Learning
• Real-Life is a Collaboration• Information Overload
Collaborative Learning
• Assistance of Technology– Email– Online discussions– Chat rooms– Blogs
Collaborative Learning
• Model Collaboration• Facilitate the Process
Collaborative Learning
• Collaboration in Teaching– Content– Pedagogy– Technology
Challenges
• Culture of Autonomy and Individual Responsibility
Challenges
• Push for “Seamless” Education
Challenges
• Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Challenges
• Peer-Review of Online Courses
Challenges
• Support for Faculty
Challenges
• Scholarship of Teaching
Final Thoughts
• What do you see in the future?
Summary and Conclusions
Resources
• The Sloan Consortium: a consortium of institutions and organizations committed to quality online education http://www.sloan-c.org
• Knowledge Media Laboratory of The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/kml/