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Use MERLOT to Develop Hybrid/Online Classes More Easily

Cathy Swift

February 20, 2008

Southwest EDUCAUSE

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Today

• My experiences

• MERLOT

• Look for resources

• Questions

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My Experiences

• WebMBA Program – University System of Georgia

• International Business class

• Online learning

• Palloff and Pratt (1999), Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom

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Palloff & Pratt

• Online classroom involves interaction:– Between instructor and student– Between student and student– Between student and content

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Challenge: Faculty to Student Interaction

• Then– E-mails (24/7)– Phone calls– Comments on grading

• Now:– Video clips– Lectures– Podcasts– Biographical updates

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Challenge:Student to Student Interaction

• Then– Student teams that changed weekly– Weekly assignments– Discussion assignments– Term paper

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Challenge:Student to Content Interaction

• Then– Read the Book

• Now– Have assignments that encourage students

to learn the content in a different way– Provide plenty of opportunities for different

styles of learner

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How to Find Content?

• MERLOT– MERLOT is a leading edge, user-centered,

searchable collection of peer reviewed,, higher education, online learning materials

– created by registered members, and a set of faculty development support services.

– MERLOT's vision is to be a premiere online community where faculty, staff, and students from around the world share their learning materials and pedagogy.

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MERLOT Editorial Boards

• Organized like journal editorial board– Editor (may be co-editors)– Board Members

• Associate Editors• Peer Reviewers

– Peer Reviewers

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Let’s Look at MERLOT

• International Business Class– Globalization

• Virtual Zambia• Anthony Giddens Lecture• International Case Studies• International Negotiations Quiz• Business Cultural Guide• Examining Patriarchal and Matriarchal Society

and Culture

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Other Disciplines

• Biology – eSkeletons • Chemistry – VRMolecule• Engineering – MecMovies• Health Sciences – Auscultation Assistant• Music – Music Theory Online• Psychology – How the Brain Works• World Languages - Ojala

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Searching MERLOT

• Search

• Browse

• Let’s go to MERLOT