Using Zoom Technology:Online Pedagogical Practices

with Implications for Creating a Community of Learners

Presented at 9th Annual OCICU Conference

The Online Consortium: A Magical PartnershipMarch 27, 2015

A N N M A R I E L I C ATA , P H . D .

A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R O F E D U C AT I O N

A LV E R N I A U N I V E R S I T Y

A N N M A R I E . L I C ATA @ A LV E R N I A . E D U

M I R O L I W O S Z

E D U C AT I O N A L T E C H N O LO GY O P E RAT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R

A LV E R N I A U N I V E R S I T Y

M I R O. L I W O S Z @ A LV E R N I A . E D U

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Guiding Questions

What is Zoom Technology?How does Zoom assist in creating a “Community of Learners?” How do we define a “Community of Learners?”How is Zoom being utilized to promote best pedagogical online practices to build “Communities of Learners” at Alvernia University in graduate Education classes?

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Building Communities of Learners: A Look at the Research

A Community consists of a group of people with similar interests who share, interact, dialogue and think collectively to generate and disseminate new knowledge (Siemens, 2004).

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Building Communities of Learners: A Look at the Research

Community of Learners:

A network of knowledge from where individuals can acquire and feed knowledge into (Akella, 2012).

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Building Communities of Learners: A Look at the Research

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Knowledge is constructed through connections between networks.

Learning occurs when a learner connects to and feeds information into a learning community. (Siemens, 2004)

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Building Communities of Learners: A Look at the Research

◦ Cooperation – students working alongside each other yet independent

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Collaboration – students interactions are interdependent and promote joint contributions that could not be achieved by one individual. (Oliver, Herrington, Herrington, & Reeves, 2007)

Group Work

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Building Communities of Learners: A Look at the Research

Enhancing online experiences and improving learner outcomes is achieved by:

1) creating an online community of learners

2) using available technologies can be used to expand and support a sense of community (West, Jones & Semon, 2012).

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ZOOM Technologywww.zoom.us

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What is Zoom technology?

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• Web-based cloud video conferencing that supports:• Video • Voice• Content sharing

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How does Alvernia University use ZOOM?

Zoom is used to establish the opportunity for synchronous discussion between and among learners and the instructor.

Zoom is used for the collaboration of online projects and presentations among learners.

Zoom is used for individual interviews with students.

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How does Alvernia University use ZOOM?

Zoom is used to review assignments with individuals or groups through the screen share feature.

Zoom is used to record messages to students.

Zoom is used to establish online chats with assigned groups.

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AU Graduate Students’ Thoughts about Zoom

“I am enjoying all aspects of this course. This doesn't feel like a truly online course to me. ‘Typical’ online courses with blackboard thread conversations do not seem to be interactive to me or worthwhile at all. I feel like I need the interaction to truly discuss and understand how to use the textbook information in real life situations.

Thanks so much for the Zoom experience... I think this might be where we are headed in the future with high school "online" education. Our district is pushing that in the future all high school students take at least one online class before graduating.”

~Alvernia Grad Student

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AU Graduate Students’ Thoughts about Zoom

“I love the format. A few audio bumps here and there did not detract overall. My cohort, in general, has not been very engaged. This format almost ‘forced’ engagement. It was better than most of our other courses in this regard. As a full-time professional with 6 children, the convenience factor was excellent.”

~Alvernia Graduate Student

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AU Graduate Students’ Thoughts about Zoom

“When I was first told the class was going to be on-line, I was a bit skeptical. While I know there are benefits to on line learning, I enjoy verbally discussing topics. However, once we started using zoom I realized it was much better than the traditional on line learning. It allows for the discussion and also saves me a lot of time because I do not need to drive to and from the University.”

~Alvernia Graduate Student

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AU Graduate Students’ Thoughts about Zoom

“The synchronous project that Dr. Licata had us work on using Zoom was a lot of work and required our group to be prepared. But I got to know members of my group well and liked that I could see them. It made doing a group project online easy.”

~Alvernia Graduate Student

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Online Instruction:The Challenge of Building a Community of

Learners

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Online Instruction:The Challenge of Building a Community of

Learners• Students are looking for flexibility and convenience

(Smith, 2001).

• Instructors are unaware of the benefits of online communities of learners (Oliver, Herrington, Herrington, & Reeves, 2007).

• Building a community of learners requires more time of the instructor to be a facilitator and involved in the community, as well as individually establishing relationships with learners.

• Instructors must think “differently” about teaching and learning than traditional models.

• Nonverbal communication (more than 50%) is absent.

• There are various levels of technological knowledge among students.

• Students have diverse learning styles and preferences.

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Next steps …

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You can contact us at…

Ann Marie Licata, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Education

Alvernia University

annmarie.licata@alvernia.edu

Miro Liwosz

ETOC (Educational Technology Operations Coordinator)

Alvernia University

miro.liwosz@alvernia.edu

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