The Online Environment: Within the University and Openly Available

Karen Vignare, Michigan State University

Agenda

• Objectives• Introduction• Discussion• Summary• References

Objectives

• Determine what is available at your university• The checklist to getting started within the university• Using outside resources• Identifying the places to store course materials• Realize limitations of open environments

Introduction

• Online learning is quickly becoming integral at many universities

• How to find resources at your university• How to locate resources outside your university• Getting started

Building from the university infrastructure

• Asynchronous tools Learning or course management systems—MOODLE, Blackboard, etc.

• Synchronous tools—like web conferencing, skype• Staff support• IT support

Building from the university infrastructure

• Do you know any other faculty putting course materials online—webpages or elsewhere

• Is the focus on web enhanced, blended learning or distance learning

• Do the students have any help?

Checklist for quality online learning

• Quality Matters is publishing checklist• Community of Inquiry is a process framework• Student engagement online measures student

perceptions of effort and engagement• All require advanced planning for content, interaction

and assessment

Checklist for quality online learning

• Start off with a simple approach• Electronic lectures• Discussion questions• Activities—projects, cases, small group activities• Gradebook

• Plan ahead—make sure you have more than half the class ready before you start

• Course will require much time once it starts

Checklist for quality online learning

• Do students have support if not prepare a technical checklist for them

• Explain to students why online learning will benefit them

• Explain to students that online learning could take more time but it is flexible and convenient

Free outside resources

• Moodle—open source learning management system, Sakai, free does not mean no cost

• WordPress, Drupal and other—open source content management systems

• Course development—many tools listed at http://sourceforge.net/ --openoffice.org, prezi.com

• Open Access Journals, http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=home&uiLanguage=en

Hosting a course online without support

• http://wikieducator.org/Main_Page • Course on open education resources,

http://wikieducator.org/User:Leighblackall/Open_educational_resources_and_practices

• P2PU, http://p2pu.org/en/• Connexions, http://cnx.org/ • OER Commons, http://www.oercommons.org/• MERLOT, http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm

Limitations in open environments

• Open environments do have limitations like students assessment

• Grades can’t be shared openly• Students should know that their comments and work

can be viewed by any one and everyone• Do colleges need to protect privacy?

Discussion

• Can you share what online learning support exists at your university?

Summary

• Opting for online learning is likely to require getting to know what is available at your college

• Don’t despair if no infrastructure exists as you can find online tools and hosting services

• Be prepared for more work and start simple

References

• http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/ecoach/tenbest.html

• http://www.bestuniversities.com/blog/2009/how-to-create-your-own-online-course-100-tools-guides-and-resources/

• www.educause.edu

Terms of Use

© Karen Vignare, Michigan State University, MEAS project.

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Disclaimer

This presentation was made possible by the

generous support of the American people

through the United States Agency for

International Development, USAID. The

contents are the responsibility of the

author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the

views of USAID or the United States

Government.