Preparing Teachers to Teach in Online and Blended Learning Environments

DR. PAUL RESTA, U. OF TEXAS, AUSTIN

JARL JONAS, BLACKBOARD INC

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

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Welcome and Introductions

Jarl Jonas jarl.jonas@blackboard.comSr. Program Manager

CourseSites

My Lifelong Learning Journey

- K12 Teacher, FL & NJ

- Faculty Dev. Coord., NYU

- Dir. Virtual College & Corp. Learning , NYU

- Consulting Manager, Bb

- Program Manger, CourseSites by Bb

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CourseSites is a fully hosted, online course creation and facilitation service for high school teachers and higher education instructors.

• The Need to Keep Up• What is CourseSites?• Roles of Online Instructors

• Space Planner• Host• Pace-Setter• Connector• Mirror

• Review

Agenda

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• Supplemental or full-time online learning opportunities are available to at least some students in 48 of the 50 states plus Washington, DC.

• „27 states, as well as Washington, DC, have statewide full-time online schools.

• „38 states have state virtual schools or state-led online initiatives, and Alaska is planning to open a statewide online learning network in 2011.

• „Many virtual schools show annual growth rates between 20% and 45%„.

• 75% of school districts had one or more students enrolled in an online or blended learning course.

• „72% of school districts with distance education programs planned to expand online offerings in the coming year.

Source: http://www.inacol.org/press/docs/NACOL_fastfacts-lrOct2010.pdf

The Need to Keep Up

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Need for Free Resources

“School budgets are under pressure—and many teachers are opening their own wallets as well as turning to free resources.”

Source: Deepening Connections: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology PBS and GRUNWALD ASSOCIATES LLC, 2011

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What is CourseSites?

Presentation Tools

Content-Based Tools

Distribution Tools

Communication Tools Productivity Tools

CourseSites is a free, fully hosted online course creation and facilitation service, specifically designed for individual instructors.

• Discussions• Email• Text Chat• VoIP/Whiteboard• Journals

• 24/7 Access• Email• Social Sharing• Virtual Classroom• Blogs

• Lesson Planning• Efficient Grading• Progress Reports• Performance Dashboard

• Online Environment• Email• Text Chat• VoIP/Whiteboard

• WSYWIG Editor• Mash-ups (YouTube)• Wikis• VoIP/Whiteboard

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The Roles of Online Instructors

Five Roles I Play in Online Courses by Scot Headley

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Space Planner

“The first responsibility of online instructors is to plan their course space by using the functionality and activities of the online course to create abundant opportunities for

interaction within an easily navigable interface.”

Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

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www.coursesites.com

Creating an Account

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Quick, Easy Registration

Instructors can sign up using popular web service credentialsto lessen # of online accounts and reduce login errors

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SETTING UP COURSES

How do we make sure students do not feel like this?

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Course Structures

Choice of 32 pedagogically-driven course structuresw/ sample content helps expedite the course building process

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Serving As Host

“In the host role, online instructors draw students

into the experience of online learning and respond to student needs and concerns with a patient, welcoming, attentive

attitude.”

Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

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Steps to Get Started

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Initial Guidance

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Course Themes

Choice of 50 themes creates aesthetic learning environmentand enhances student engagement

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Instructor Community

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Instructor Home Page

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Pace-Setter

“Satisfactory experiences for the instructor and student in an Internet-based course

require the recognition that the preparation, activities, and commitments are a bit different than those of face-to-

face courses.”

Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

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Getting Started with CourseSites

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Student Orientation

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Accessibility & Universal Design

Request enrollment at accessible.coursesites.com

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Lesson Planning

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Learning Modules

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Notifications

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Connector

" My connector role requires me to help participants make connections with each other, with the course content, and between their work in the course and

their work outside the course space.”

Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

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Wikis, Blogs, Journals

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CourseSites Live

Participant Window

Text chat

Audio controls

Tools

Activity Window

(optional)

Whiteboard tools

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CourseSites IM

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CourseSites Voice

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Images• www.cooltext.com (course banners)• www.flamingtext.com course banners)• www.pics4learning.com• www.loc.gov (Library of Congress)• www.gettyone.com (royalty free)• www.flickr.com (now from w/in CourseSites)

Video• www.youtube.com (now from w/in CourseSites)• www.teachertube.com

Web Content• www.slideshare.com (now from w/in CourseSites)• www.merlot.org (Advanced K12, HE)• www.eduhound.com (K12)

Programs• www.techsmith.com/Jing (create recorded overviews)• www.ispringsolutions.com (Creates Flash-based resources from

PPT)

Multi-media Resources

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Partner Capabilities

Partner Capabilities – also at no cost!• Respondus

• Assessment Creation • LockDown Browser• StudyMate Class• Free versions for use on CourseSites only

• SoftChalk

• Free version for use on CourseSites only

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Instructor Community

“Educators are not limiting their searches to classroom content. They also are seeking ways to improve and grow professionally. Teachers increasingly are using the Internet to access instructional strategies and opportunities for professional development, collaboration and inspiration.”

Source: Deepening Connections: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology PBS and GRUNWALD ASSOCIATES LLC, 2011

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Mirror

“My personal goals within this role are to help individuals have an external guide to their mastery of the course content, to inform individuals of their level of success in fulfilling community commitments, and to

encourage and challenge the group as a whole.”Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

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Testimonials and Showcases

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Review

Five Roles I Play in Online Courses by Scot Headley

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Engage – Share Your Ideas

Brainstorm Activity: Think about what we’ve discussed. Turn to a neighbor, and let him/her know of an idea you have or thought of as a result of today!

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www.coursesites.com

jarl.jonas@blackboard.com

Get Started Today!

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• YouTubewww.youtube.com/coursesites

• Facebookwww.facebook.com/coursesites

• Twitter@coursesites

Stay Connected!