Video production choices and online instruction

Birds eye of video in online instruction

Thanks go to Meg for recommending this link. Granted, it includes a plug of iSpring, but there is some good info here- including the pros and cons of various formats. Not technical or software necessarily but presentation and planning tips.

Tweet

Facilitating Effective Classroom Discussion

Do you struggle with keeping your online discussions fresh and enticing? Students are much more likely to participate actively in discussions, online and face-to-face, if the facilitator follows a few guidelines. This does not mean you should "control" the discussion but it is important to participate (so students know you value their comments) and guide the discussion.
Maryellen Weimer, PhD posted her tips for facilitating effective classroom discussions in the Teaching Professor Blog. Her article, Facilitating Effective Classroom Discussion, the Devil is in the Details, provides several tips that apply to online as well as face-to-face classroom discussion. I feel it will be easier to implement her tips in the online environment because one has the opportunity to consider more fully a response.Among others, the author suggests the facilitator consider:

• Is the discussion losing steam? If so, how might it be re-energized?
• Is it time for a summary? Do the main points need to be sorted out of the morass?
• Where did the discussion start, where is it now and where does it still need to go?

Tweet

Essential Google Drive Skills for Teachers

As Butler prepares to transition to Canvas, our new learning management system, one skill we all need to brush up on is how to utilize Google Drive.  Google Docs are stored on Google Drive and are easily embedded into Canvas. Not only are they easily embedded, but a Google document that is used in several different locations within Canvas only needs to be updated once in the Google document and is "auto-magically" updated everywhere.  Here is a great article entitled, "Five Essential Google Drive Skills for Teachers" that will help us all get started using Google Drive.

Tweet

eQuizShow

Back in my public high school teaching days, my students enjoyed reviewing for tests Jeopardy-style.  I used a neat PowerPoint template and spent plenty of time building questions and answers.  It was effective for the students but a bit time consuming to create.  Henry Wilson, a junior year high school student from New York City, has developed a free online tool called eQuizShow.  The easy-to-use tool generates Jeopardy-style games online with no need to download or upload PowerPoint files.  Check out the eQuizShow gallery to use a quiz that has already been created or just to get some good ideas for your game.  Enjoy!

Tweet

Teaching with Twitter

Teaching with Twitter
From the website GradHacker, this article (and website) demonstrates interesting perspectives to online teaching and learning. Check out the comments, as well as the article itself
In particular this is aimed at students and instructors who are increasingly aware even expectant of the use of technologies in their lives.

Tweet

MOOC talk

One of my favorite listens on my iPhone is the podcast American RadioWorks. Recently they featured a series on Keyboard College . As the title infers, it is a look at the future of online education. This link is an article from their website on MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses. They aren't new. However, MOOCs are being examined in a new light for their value in face of rising costs in education, and their increasing accessibility via mobile devices.
The entire documentary is worth checking out as it brings some interesting perspectives on the challenges and promise of online education from within and without the field of education.

Tweet

Butler QM Blog

Have you wondered what we mean when we say we strive to get our online courses to be Quality Matters courses? If so, you should check out Butler's QM site! This site discusses the Quality Matter standards and provides examples of how you can add things to your online or blended courses to make them meet these QM standards. Butler Online has created a number of things, such as the Click Here to Begin folder, that already meet certain standards and are easy ways for you to start down the path of making your online or blended course a Quality Matters course.  

If you are interested in learning more, we would be happy to help you sign up for an online training class that will help you learn more about Quality Matters!

Tweet

The Perpetual Learner

Today, the Huffington Post posted an article from the blog of Tom Teicholz about the ways Online Learning is empowering people to become perpetual learners at any age. I love the idea of this, not just because I am admittedly biased, but because it opens so many possibilities for so many. Personally, I would love to take more Art Appreciation courses for fun. I teach business courses, which I love, but a big reason for that is that I have no apparent artistic skills. But I loved my Art History courses in college and go to every major art museum in range when I travel. I also plan to brush up on some of my outdated technical skills since every job needs them these days. Now that I work at Butler Online and get to see all that is available to me, I have started a little "bucket list" of courses I would love to take.  

What courses do you want to take?

Tweet

The Trouble with Online Education

I wanted to share this article posted in the New York Times, The Trouble with Online Education. I was surprised at the uniformed attitude expressed in the article. I truly thought people, especially educators, had a clearer understanding of the possibilities, indeed, the expectations in online education. I certainly wish the author could partake in some of the exceptional learning experiences provided by our own Butler Online instructors. You might wish to comment on the article.

Tweet

A fine balance

In a recent issue of Online Cl@ssroom, columnist, Errol Sull reflected on the considerations of adopting new tools in an online course. In light of my own online classroom experience, and his suggestions and reminders, I have put together a few rather broad ideas for consideration:

Prepare to learn with and from your students. Provide a (monitored) sounding board via a discussion for students who might need a bit of encouragement or direction when using new technology for a project. Be flexible but firm when you introduce a new tool. Applaud if they discover something new or problematic. Teaching students to think and solve problems, is never out-of-date.

Seek help! Each new piece of software, is likely to have a corresponding blog, forum, or email newsletter. Take advantage of these. Sometimes you can find tips and ideas that don’t come with the software guides.

Keep students in mind. Technology choices should never be about less time teaching, but rather time used more effectively.  Students will continue to need you, no matter how cool the tools, to answer questions, focus and motivate, reduce anxiety, and hold the flashlight when they need help.

Tweet

Yodio!

Yodio is a free tool that records words and visuals for future playback. As instructors, we can use it to explain a difficult concept or one with unusual pronunciations so the students can play it as many times as they’d like until they are ready to move on. For the students, we could have them explain what they read or discuss their opinions on a topic, then send us the link so we could assess them in a way outside traditional evaluation methods. What a great way to connect using something outside of the normal procedures! Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Below is an example of a student Yodio submission. Press the play button to hear what she has to say!

Tweet

Put a CORK in it!

We’ve all read about the importance of group work and collaboration but sometimes getting things started is part of the challenge! One way to get students to form teams is to use corkboard.me (www.corkboard.me). You can use this tool to facilitate a brainstorming session - my example is on “healthy lifestyle choices”. They can add suggested topics to your corkboard (anonymously) then when you’re ready, they can sign up for whichever topic they want to work on.

I’ve also seen it used as a way for students to introduce themselves to the class. Play with mine and see if it might be useful in your class! http://corkboard.me/oCgczOvjhd

Tweet

Time Toast

If you ever need to show a timeline or have your students create one, this tool is for you! It’s free and allows you quickly and easily create a timeline on a topic you teach. Try it out and let us know what you think! Meanwhile, check this one out on the Beatles!

Tweet

Taking a Poll...

A few of us went to an E-Learning conference last week and picked up some new cool *free* tools to share with you! In many of the ones I attended, they took polls to gauge the audience (“what education level are you representing?”), check for comprehension &/or relevance (“do you feel like you could use this tool in your class?”), or provide a quick mental break (“what is your favorite candy bar?”) At first, I was the girl in the back bumbling for my phone, trying to be the first one to text my answer and see it appear on the projector, but as it continued, I realized the benefit these would serve in many classrooms! The kids want to use their phones anyway, why not turn them into an engaging teaching tool? Maybe start your class with a question to assess whether they’ve read the assigned material? Or do one halfway through to see if they’re following you? It’s easy and fun, and might be just what you’re looking for to freshen up your next meeting, whether it’s online or face-to-face! Polls can be taken via email, text or even tweet and can be embedded into a PowerPoint, ANGEL, or a variety of other options. Check them out (flisti & polleverywhere are two I saw) and let us know if we can help!

Introducing Poll Everywhere from Poll Everwhere on Vimeo.

Tweet

Online Resources for YOU!

80 Online Tools, References, and Resources

We all know that teachers are always looking for tools, references, and resources for classrooms. Well, here's 80 "must see" trial, free, and paid websites recommended by Edutopia community members. Keep this list in your back pocket! It might come in handy. (The list is not ranked and listed in any order.) =)

Tweet

5 Things Students Want their Teachers to Know about Online Learning

I found the blog post, 5 Things Students Want their Teachers to Know about Online Learning, by Lisa Nielsen in her blog, The Innovative Educator, to be a worthy reminder. According the students and teachers at the iNacol Virtual Schools Symposium:

1. Socialization is important
2. Students want to see their teacher and
3. to see each other.
4. They want you to get to know them and 
5. want you to keep the course relevant. 

Although none of this is terribly new, several ideas and useful sites to accomplish all of this are included. Check this out as you refresh your courses for the spring semester.

Tweet

Performance Tools

(This was originally posted by Tara Canfield on 12/20 in Butler Online's Advent Calendar)

Would you like a list of over 2000 tools for learning? Created by the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies, this directory has tools listed for everything from group interaction to podcasting!

What an excellent resource for online instructors!

Tweet

Students' Expectations

(This was originally posted by Tara Canfield on 12/18 in Butler Online's Advent Calendar)

Have you ever wondered what your students' expectations are for you as their instructor? Sometimes we concentrate so much on what WE need from them, but wouldn't it help us be better instructors if we focused on our actions as well?? To learn more about this subject, read the article by Sabrina Ely at eLearn Magazine.

Tweet

Job Search

(This was originally posted by Tara Canfield on 12/12 in Butler Online's Advent Calendar)

The Ghost of Christmas Present visited me last night! I told him to "GET LOST--I have had enough of you and your wacky friends!" He wouldn't leave though, and he just kept yelling (drama queen!) something about how I need to get my "head right" and start spreading the word about present day job search tools.

I agree with him though. The job market IS harder to navigate these days, so what are people doing to highlight their skills and stand out from the rest of the crowd. One way is to create a visual resume. A great example of this is Heidi Lilly's visual resume on Slideshare. If you conduct an interviewing module in your class, as I do, then this would make a great project for your students!

Tweet

Faculty Focus

(This was originally posted by Tara Canfield on 12/4 in Butler Online's Advent Calendar)

Faculty Focus recently highlighted a 2011 study on online education, conducted by the Sloan Consortium and the Babson Survey Research Group. The study, Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States, 2011, found that more than six million students are now taking online classes. For more detailed findings, you can obtain the full report from The Sloan Consortium.

Tweet