Virtual Activewear

Small Group Activities in Synchronous,

Online Instruction

Dana Longley, Asst. Dir. for Library Instruction & Information Literacy,

SUNY Empire State College

@Home

Workshops:

ARE NOT:

• req’d (usually)

• credit-bearing

• video-based

• class-specific

ARE:

• via Elluminate

• voluntary

• 90 mins long

• evenings

• hands-on

• low tech/skill

accessible

• 1st yr-focused

Why Small Groups?

Learning

Objectives

Motivation

• Competition

• Community

• Pride

• Fun

The Ideal

Barriers to Success

• Time

• Technology (for students AND teacher)

• Anxiety; cognitive overload

• Perceived relevance

Best Practices

Keep it Simple

• Concise, clear instructions

• Provide examples

• One task; one L.O.

Scaffolding

• Icebreakers

• Feedback

• Time for

group

discussion

• Build to

complexity

Make it Tactile

"I was too excited over

using the white board

and working in a group.

This was a great

approach and i loved it.

Good job and thanks

for making learning

fun!"

Feedback

Let's Talk and team-up, too!

• dana.longley@esc.edu

• @disobedientlib on twitter