VLGMA talk on Awakening Community: New Tools in a New Age
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Transcript of VLGMA talk on Awakening Community: New Tools in a New Age
Awakening Community: New Tools in a New Age
John Boyer ([email protected])Dept. of Geography
Virginia TechTwitter: @plaidavenger
The technology tools now available to communicate and to deliver content are
AWESOME!!!
...but don’t be forced into compliance, nor lulled
into complacency....
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the professor to the students
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the professor to the students
Tools that help connect the professor to the
students
Creating a powerful PERCEPTION of availability
Ustream - Online office hours
Tools that help give students a voice during class, building a sense of
active involvement
Twitter - Class hashtag streamed live on-screen
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
YOURS TOO!
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
-Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates different learning styles and testing strengths
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam=1253)Final Exam=1254)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)6)Non-class events paper=25/each7)Atlas quizzes (11)=1108)Twitter Assignment=2009)Forum Commenting (14wks) =21010)Geographic Film Review=25/each11)Flash Quizzes=???12)Random Attendance=???13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=??? Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example
Diversity of student assessment options...combination of automated and
‘manual’ systems
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam=1253)Final Exam=1254)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)6)Non-class events paper=25/each7)Atlas quizzes (11)=1108)Twitter Assignment=2009)Forum Commenting (14wks) =21010)Geographic Film Review=25/each11)Flash Quizzes=???12)Random Attendance=???13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=??? Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example
-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
So why bother building a community?
-Helps keep students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after class
A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week
-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more
Basically, because a community can increase student learning, learning opportunities, and may even make your job way easier than dealing with 3000 individual
students
-Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares students much more for ‘the real world’
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
And a community can take care of problems as well...
like our FACEBOOK SCANDAL
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
A COMMUNITY knows what everyone else is up to...3000 INDIVIDUALS working solo do not
Peer review, group projects, and peer to peer networking can really raise the standards of student work
A COMMUNITY feels comfortable and even compelled to add to the class in a great diversity of ways
...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not
A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make
the impossible possible with a collective voice.
A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make
the impossible possible with a collective voice.
...GROUP SYNERGY evolves organically
Aung San Suu Kyi Noble Peace Prize Winner
and chairperson of the National League for
Democracy in Burma
Led to live Skype session with her
Initial interest from Burmese student
Skype shout out & social networking by students
A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the class is over
...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not
Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every
semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends...
A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the class is over
...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not
Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every
semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends...
Creating life-long learners...isn’t that
what we teachers are all about?
Business Objective #1: Manage your PR
-to at least “appear” to be attentive to consumer concerns
-increasingly the (easiest/cheapest/best) way to collect feedback on products and service
Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/communications possible
Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
Trust the Capn’n
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/communications possible
Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
Trust the Capn’n
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/communications possible-God save us from Disney
Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone
Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone
-positive feedback loop: you are on our team, you matter, buy more, you matter more
Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone
-positive feedback loop: you are on our team, you matter, buy more, you matter more
Business Objective #4: Screw Big BusinessThis community stuff is empowering individuals
-Power to the (entrepreneur) people!
Business Objective #4: Screw Big BusinessThis community stuff is empowering individuals
-Power to the (entrepreneur) people!
-Individuals, and individuals working together as a shared voice, can focus and enact change like never
before
Gov’t objective: Distributing Info/Interacting with Public
-”Public online office hours” = Ways public can interact with gov officials and learn more. Students don't come to office hours, its intimidating,
inconvenient, etc - same with public. Some don't want to go to hearings or the office or a live Q&A, give them another option.
-Post answers where all can see it....why repeat yourself a thousand times?
-People (esp this generation) access info in different ways. Used to digital information that they can get anytime and where (YouTube, Wikipedia,
Google Hangout)
Gov’t objective: Keeping Finger on the Pulse
Twitter: I'm sure they all have accounts - but if not get on it! Use a program like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to search for your town/county name so you know what the conversation is about. Also use it to search locally
for tweets about certain pertinent topics. Are they mentioning construction, or wondering why their trash
is not being picked up, etc.
Don’t just “push” information, Twitter can be a discussion. Respond to those with issues.
‘The community’ knows where citizens are talking/complaining/voicing their concerns (Reddit, Craigslist)
-What are their main concerns?
-What are they ranting about?
-What are solutions others are proposing?
Gov’t objective: Keeping Finger on the Pulse
Gov’t objective: Crafting the narrative
-Control the narrative, before users’ narratives control you-Enact a sunset on the “SUNRISE”
-Get your community to head off the trolls
AND speaking of ‘catches’....there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
there are some things that need to be recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
-It will all change tomorrow.
there are some things that need to be recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion,
empowering individuals....
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion,
empowering individuals....
Isn’t that what teaching and public service is really all about?
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion,
empowering individuals....
Isn’t that what teaching and public service is really all about?
And everything I’ve talked about is simply a megaphone for
amplifying your voice
Technologies in society are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Citizens don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!
Technologies in society are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Citizens don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!
You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!