Interaction!What Every Digital-Age Classroom Needs Most

Anastasia M. Trekles, Ph.D.atrekles@pnc.edu

Slides available: http://slideshare.net/andella

Objectives• Develop assignments and projects that

encourage productive student-student interaction online

• Use simple tools and strategies to reach digital native students in online environments and engage them in the content, rather than just on “getting the work done”

Do we really know our students?• We teach the way we

were taught• But, students don’t always

respond the way we did to the same strategies

• Consider where your students are coming from

Research on Millennials• Otherwise known as digital natives

(thanks Marc Presnky!) • One of the most-studied

generations• Generalizations come mostly from

research – but, still important to not stereotype!

• Overall “personality” of those who fit the Millennial group – including students with birthdates roughly from 1980 to today

Characteristics of the Millennial Generation

• Diverse• “Largest, healthiest, and most cared-for generation”• Strive to achieve – motivated by grades, recognition,

external awards• Grew up with technology as commonplace• Optimistic and confident • Collaborative and team-oriented

What Millennials Need in the Classroom• Clarity • Chunked content • Achievement• Ethics training • Variety• Flexibility and Choice• Social engagement

• Millennials are often very rules-oriented

• Many are more visually literate and less textually literate

• Expect to achieve the grades they want and will do whatever it takes to get them

• Expect a greater array of selections in all things, including learning

• Live in a transparent world where communication is constant

Engaging Young Learners in the Classroom• Variety – vary your activities and assessments, and provide

choice where you can• Clarity – explain everything that is required as thoroughly as

possible• Chunk information – smaller packages of material lead to

deeper conversations• Examples and resources – offer examples of good work,

practice tests, and different ways to study, including through video, summary articles, websites

How do you generate interaction?• How do you get kids

excited when learning online?

• What has been successful?

• What has not been so successful?

eLearning Isn’t Going Away• More and more colleges

are expecting students to be able to learn online

• In turn, more and more students expect to be able to take online courses when they get to college

• But, are they prepared?

Value of Interaction• Simple Read-and-respond

activities are not enough• When students engage with

others, they gain additional insight

• We know that digital natives appreciate collaboration, so give them a chance!

Tools for Engagement• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc)• Skype, Google Hangouts, webinar software• Video lectures (Camtasia, Jing, Screencast-o-Matic, etc) with

accompanying discussions or assignments• Online portfolios and peer review (Wix, Weebly, Google)• Wikis, Discussions, Blogs• Learning management systems (Moodle, Canvas, etc)• Rubrics (Rubistar helps!)

Getting Interaction• Hybrid and flipped class models• Early Childhood interaction example - discussions• Middle school interaction example -scenario

-based learning• High school/College interaction example -audio

recording and social media

Other ideas?• Please share your ideas,

experiences, questions, and resources!

Resources• Great selection of videos on online teaching:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelinEdMan/ videos • Big list of collaborative tools:

http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Collaborative+Tools

• Building community online: http://tlc.provost.gwu.edu/building-community-and-interaction-online

Resources• Wilson, W., & Gerber, L.E. (2008). How generational theory can improve

teaching: Strategies for working with the “millennials.” Currents in Teaching and Learning, 1(1), 29-44. Retrieved from http://www.worcester.edu/currents/archives/volume_1_number_1/currentsv1n1wilsonp29.pdf

• The writings of Marc Prensky: http://www.marcprensky.com • Nicholas, A. (2008). Preferred learning methods of the millennial generation.

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers. Paper 18. http://digitalcommons.salve.edu/fac_staff_pub/18

• Carr, N. (2011). The shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains. New York: W.W. Norton.

Thanks!• Reach me at: – atrekles@pnc.edu – Twitter and Facebook: @PNCOLT and

@instruct_tech–http://www.pnc.edu/distance–http://www.iceindiana.org