Implementation of a Large E-Learning Project

Jerry Whaley

EDU 655

Dr. Kris Jamsa

Oct 26, 2009

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References

Thank you!!!

E-Learning Solution!

3A Cool Breeze

9Summing It Up

1The Frozen Truth

6The Hot Reality

8Teaching in a Virtual Classroom

2A Cold Chill

10Who do I thank?

4A Mild Feeling

7Managing Virtual Courses

5The Warm Fuzzes

One degree at

a time

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E-learning…n. – electronic delivery and retrieval system of massive proportions.

v. – intended for exploration and gathering massive amounts of information.

adj. – accessible massive storage device.

“While dwelling on the masses; electronic learning, through various means, is and has been devised, developed,

discovered, and delivered through the efforts of many and the millions of available resources.”

Collaboration…n. – getting together and acquiring knowledge through chatting, whiteboard, breakout rooms, and audio/video conferencing.v. – intended application sharing with professionals and amateurs through slide shows, polling, and web tours.adj. – synchronous or asynchronous.

Using William Horton’s layer learning activities, you can see the various modes of collaborating (Horton, 2006, p419):

Office Hours

Meetings & Presentations

Discussion, Team Projects, & Study

Groups

Readings, Research, Labs, & Papers

Group synchronous

One-on-one, synchronous

Group, asynchronous

Individual, asynchronous

Interacting and Communication…n. – sharing ideas through chat rooms and sending e-mail.

v. – receiving email, answering e-mail, and responding to chats.

adj. – accessing the information based on connectivity and network settings.

128Kbps256Kbps56Kbps 2Mbps4Mbps1Mbps

2-way Video conferencing

Audio conferencing

Chat, Instant messaging

1-way Video conferencing

E-mail, discussion forums, Web pages

White board, slides, application sharing, animation

Whiteboard…

Whiteboard

n. – expresses more than words.

v. – creates an immediate tie between teacher and learner.

adj. – powerful interactive two way instructional tool.

The process can simulate an interactive activity, pose questions requiring response, initiates

creativity, and can annotate important features of discussion.

Application Sharing…n. – sharing programs, windows, or the entire screen.

v. – demo procedures, processes, and even software applications.

adv. – especially useful for programs not yet released or used often.

Useful when demonstrating simple procedures. Share only what you need to share and is very helpful with narrated

audio.

Best Practices with Video…•A good camera, a professional camera is the best but as we all know, sometimes that isn’t in the budget. I have provided a video of how to get the best from your Web Cam.•Lighting is crucial, defused lighting or reflected lighting off an opposite wall.•Minimize background noise, ideally the use of a microphone close to your mouth and the speakers off.•Position the camera so it captures only what you want it too.•Mount the camera firmly.•Dress appropriately and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.•Prepare learners for video quality issues.

Managing Virtual Classrooms…•Plan the meeting:

• Decide roles for the instructor, learners, guests, and others.• Schedule the meeting for the time of day and day of the

week where you think you’ll have the best participation.• Length of meeting should be at least one hour.• Accommodate for time-zone differences.

•Prepare the learners:• Inform the learners of goals and objectives to be

accomplished.• Survey to see what kind of audience you are dealing with.• Provide bio’s of presenters, handouts, reports, and examples.• Make sure all technical issues are addressed.• Publish standards of behavior.• Make pre-meeting assignments, award learners that are

prepared.• Introduce all participants and guest speakers.

•Gather feedback, post reference material and video recordings, and publish the revised handouts if necessary.

Teaching in a Virtual Classroom…•Prepare for the meeting:

• Rehearse at least 3 days before presentation.• Upload material, practice media & timing, fix whatever as

necessary.• Enlist help, like a producer or sidekick.

•Prepare the workstation(s) and yourself:• Primary computer with large screen and secondary as a

student.• Headset, microphone, comfortable clothes, and standing up.• Arrange your screen so all data is present, easily accessible,

and ready to share.•Setup the meeting room and announce the meeting in plenty of time for the learner to prepare for it.•Keep learners attention, interact, ask for questions, maintain control, be attentive to all learners, and stay organized.•Activate meetings to avoid one-way lecturing; turn into a workshop, publish roster, and have the event evaluated by the learners.•Be a guide for discussions and incorporate games if appropriate.

Summary…•E-learning; it’s everywhere, it’s the future, so get prepared for it.•Collaboration and appropriate tools are for all learners whether they be synchronous or asynchronous.•Interact and communicate with the knowledge of what you are dealing with and prepare accordingly.•Using the right tools, the right way, and again preparation is the key.•Demonstrations, simulations, interactivity, and connect with listener.•Video conferencing is very powerful but caution to the wind, using the right equipment, preparation, personal, and knowing your audience are a must.•When managing your virtual classroom the video roles also apply but also plan the meeting in order to prepare the learners well in advance and rely on feedback from the learners.•When teaching a virtual classroom, as seems to be the theme here, prepare, rehearse, fix as necessary, and don’t be afraid to get help.

References

Horton, William. (2006). E-Learning by Design. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer

Hawkins, A. (Oct. 1, 2007). Application Sharing with Acrobat Connect-Pro. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXQ5A1WG8Rw

Videomaker. (March 1, 2009). Best Practices for Using a Web Cam. Retrieved Oct. 26, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtZI0RSWjjA

www.btobok.com/.../userup/7/123Z22334-5428.jpg.

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