Interactivity in a Virtual Classroom

Michael CoghlanTAFE SAAugust 28th, 2006

PRESSING THE RIGHT BUTTONS

WHERE’S WALLY?

WHO’S ONLINE TODAY?

Quiz – Multiple Choice

Are you:

A) In your office?

B) In a computer suite?

C) At home?

D) Other?

MULTIPLE VENUEPRESENTATIONS(MVPs)

remote students guest

lecturer

CLASSROOM/F2F VENUE

publicspace

ELLUMINATE IS A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

• What happens in a classroom?• What happens in a virtual classroom?

What do we mean by Interactivity?

• Long association with computer assisted learning

• Has usually meant interactive programs (CD, website) - predictable

• In a virtual classroom it refers to ‘true interactivity’ ie interaction with other people – unpredictable, unscripted

Why does Interactivity Matter?

• Learning is a social experience• Increases level of exploration;

students more likely to engage with content and not just ‘consume’ it’

• Aids critical thinking, higher order thinking, problem solving

• Online: interactive experiences much more enjoyable

Good in theory but…….

• Very hard in practice• Influence of transmission model• Curriculum/time restraints – an

interactive approach can take longer• Students may need to be taught to

interact, collaborate, and trust each other

How do you ‘do interactivity’ in a virtual classroom?

Participants can:

• Participate in 2 way voice chat• Participate in 2 way text chat• Use the whiteboard (compose text,

draw pictures, upload images)• View slides and URLs• Take part in polls• Work in groups• Share applications• Stream live video (webcam)

Moderators can:Do all the things a participant can do PLUS• Upload content• Make participants moderators• Create new screens• Display URLs• Create polls and quizzes• Create break out rooms• Share applications• Show videos (mpg, QT, Flash)• Stream live video (webcam)

Interactivity: Golden Rules

• Don’t talk for more than 5 minutes at a time! ie ‘chunk’ the session

• Don’t assume you know it all

Changing Methodology

Online/elearning:

• Asynchronous• (written) text based • Content focused

• Asynch + synch• more voice interaction• Content + process

ca 1998 2005

Paradigm Shift

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity

• Ask students where/who they are• ‘Fill them out’ as real people• Share some information about

yourself• Don’t underestimate the value of

small talk• show a map so people can mark

where they are

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity

• Use a webcam (or at least show a picture)

• Have students use webcams if they have them

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity:

• Ask questions – esp open questions• Global (to the group) and individual• Encourage questions and comments• Exploit the whiteboard:

– Brainstorming– Group work– Inserting images (have students prepare

some)– For fun (especially before session,

during breaks)

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity:

• Ask for feedback regularly via– Voice– Text chat– Whiteboard– Poll– Emoticons

Progress Check

• We could use emoticons…..• Or do a quick poll:

How is everyone feeling about the session so far?

A. Satisfied

B. Very Satisfied

C. Neutral

D. Dissatisfied

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity:

• Hold group discussions

• Question: Do these examples of interactivity seem practical in your teaching/work situation?

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity:

• Enable all channels of communication (when appropriate)

• Encourage student to student communication –

especially text chat

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity

• Exploit polling/quiz tool (short answer, multiple choice)

• New polls/quizzes can be created on the fly

• Share the results• Use results as starting point for

discussion

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity

• Conduct web tours• Have students lead web tours

Other Strategies to Increase Interactivity

• Share your desktop• Have students share their desktop• Let students take control of your

mouse!

Pre and Post Session

• Open the room early• Get there early (social time, informal

question time)• Allow discussion to continue post

session

MVPs: Pedagogical Implications

• F2f classroom, lecture theatre• PC suite/lab• Office (at work)• Home office/study• Other (café, beach)

ELLUMINATE:

• a presentation tool?

• a collaboration tool?

The Instructional Challenge:

Methodology: how do you use these tools to maximise their impact?

Live Online Presentations

• Golden Rule: 5 minutes talking at a stretch maximum• Intersperse presentations with questions, polls, other

speakers (from the floor), whiteboard activity• Decide how to handle direct messaging – will you

monitor/respond? Or ignore it? Dip in and out of it?• Consider working with a producer/co-presenter• More at

http://users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/fll/blog.htm#skills

What kinds of activities can be held in virtual classrooms?

TEACHING• ‘straight lectures’

http://propertyservices.brightcookie.com/ps/lectures.htm

• Guest lecturers http://dcyeh.com/sy0304/2ndsem/groupa_projects/happy/

• Oral presentationshttp://alothman-b.tripod.com/present_162.htm

• Group work• Office hours• Social: student - student

What kinds of activities can be held in virtual classrooms?

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT• Conferences, seminars, workshops• Training sessions• Meetings (much more cost effective

than teleconferencing)

Is this the classroom of the future?