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Learning Online
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 Teacher Page
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What is Online Learning?
With more and more schools offering students the choice between taking an online class or sitting in a traditional classroom, how do you know if it's right for you? Does attending class in your pajamas or comfy clothes sound appealing? Would you like to learn and study at your own pace? Does anytime, anywhere learning appeal to your lifestyle? If so, online learning might be right for you! In this “Thing”, you will learn about online learning, and how you can be successful in your online coursework.
Each day thousands of students log on to BlackBoard, Moodle, Plato, E20/20, and many more online learning systems to "attend" class. Files, assignments, discussions, and video lessons all can be posted within an online course. Online learning can take many forms, from completely online to blended. Completely online courses are held totally online, with the instructor and student interacting only through the Internet. Sometimes the teacher is in a virtual classroom, broadcasting live from another location. Other times there are videos that the teacher records and posts for the students to watch. In a blended classroom, part of the coursework is done online, and the other part takes place in an active classroom in front of a live instructor. In order to understand the online clasroom, view the video to find out what students think about online instruction, blended classes, and the virtual classroom. |
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Are You Ready for Online Learning?
Before deciding if learning online is for you, it is important to know your own learning needs and preferences. This lesson will guide you to an understanding of online learning and help you determine if online learning is for you. At the end of this lesson you will have created a profile of yourself regarding your readiness for online learning.
View the video below, and make notes about how these students react to their teachers, their classroom, and their learning.
View the video below, and make notes about how these students react to their teachers, their classroom, and their learning.
What’s Cool About Online Learning?
Would you rather listen to a lecture or watch a video online? Here are some cool things you would find in an online classroom
· challenging, fun, and engaging activities
· cool tools like audio, video, animations, email and chats
· create your own online apps, web presence, or digital portfolios
· allows you to choose to learn with a group or individually
· allows you to choose your learning location such as a computer lab, a classroom, or from home
· allows you to choose when you learn and participate
Check out the video to hear what students think about taking an online class. What elements of online learning interest you? (Video used with permission from Greg Wilborn, 21st Century Learning Coordinator)
· challenging, fun, and engaging activities
· cool tools like audio, video, animations, email and chats
· create your own online apps, web presence, or digital portfolios
· allows you to choose to learn with a group or individually
· allows you to choose your learning location such as a computer lab, a classroom, or from home
· allows you to choose when you learn and participate
Check out the video to hear what students think about taking an online class. What elements of online learning interest you? (Video used with permission from Greg Wilborn, 21st Century Learning Coordinator)
Is Online Learning Right for You?
In order to be successful at taking an online course, let’s take a look at your personality, learning style, and likes/dislikes.
Before you decide if online learning is for you, think about your……
· learning goals
· where you like to learn
· how you like to learn
· technology experience
· access to online tools
· study habits
Before you decide if online learning is for you, think about your……
· learning goals
· where you like to learn
· how you like to learn
· technology experience
· access to online tools
· study habits
Successful Online Learners are:
- Self-motivated — Students who can direct their own learning environment, fulfill course requirements and achieve individual academic success.
- Independent — The online environment enables students to learn at their own pace--whether it’s traditional, extended, or accelerated; relieving the stress of feeling rushed or pressured and providing enjoyment in the learning process.
- Computer literate — Although it’s not necessary to have advanced computer skills, students should possess a working knowledge of electronic email, the Internet and basic keyboarding skills.
- Organized — Students must be able to organize and plan their own best “time to learn.” There is no one best time for everyone, but the key to learning is to commit the time to learn.
- Effective writers— Students must use electronic email to communicate with their peers as well as their instructors. The ability to write clearly in order to communicate ideas and assignments is very important to student success as well as a means to inform instructors of any concerns or problems.
- Committed — Since there are no bells that begin and end classes, students must have a strong desire to learn and achieve knowledge and skills via online courses. Making a commitment to learn in this manner is a very personal decision and requires a strong commitment to participate in order to achieve academic success.
Back Channel Chat
What is backchannel chat? Imagine sitting in a lecture and being able to chat on your computer with the others also listening to the lecture, to have conversations around what the speaker is talking about. BackChannel lets you network in real-time with others online. It’s like chatting “behind the scenes.”
Using Back Channel chat lets you ask questions of others during a lecture without interrupting the teacher. It also lets you take notes, have a running conversation, and share ideas - ALL WITHOUT TALKING!
Visit the Chatzy, tinychat, or TypeWith.me to try this out with another classmate. There is no software installation needed, and these are FREE, and easy to use.
Using Back Channel chat lets you ask questions of others during a lecture without interrupting the teacher. It also lets you take notes, have a running conversation, and share ideas - ALL WITHOUT TALKING!
Visit the Chatzy, tinychat, or TypeWith.me to try this out with another classmate. There is no software installation needed, and these are FREE, and easy to use.
Activities
1. After completing the Online Learning Readiness Assessment, review the success indicators and reflect on personal characteristics or habits you have that will influence your online success. What habits might you need to change in order to be a successful online learner? Share and post to your online presence, Google Doc, or submit to your instructor.
2. Navigate to the courses listed below. Create a document that compares design, activities, and layout within the online course. Give some feedback about how you see yourself fitting into each online course.
Digital PhotographyOnline Health ResourcesCyber SafetyInternet SafetyAudio recording and podcasting
For a list of many courses to browse, click Moodle Commons
Additional Activities
2. Navigate to the courses listed below. Create a document that compares design, activities, and layout within the online course. Give some feedback about how you see yourself fitting into each online course.
Digital PhotographyOnline Health ResourcesCyber SafetyInternet SafetyAudio recording and podcasting
For a list of many courses to browse, click Moodle Commons
Additional Activities
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Connections
NETS-S: 2 a, b, c 5 b
METS: 6-8.CC.1, 6-8.CC.3, 9-12.CC.2, 9-12.CC.4, 9-12.DC.3, 9-12.TC.1, 9-12.TC.6
NETS-S: 2 a, b, c 5 b
METS: 6-8.CC.1, 6-8.CC.3, 9-12.CC.2, 9-12.CC.4, 9-12.DC.3, 9-12.TC.1, 9-12.TC.6
Additional Resources
Tips for success
Tips for online success
Tips for online success 2
Tips for being a successful online learner
Tips for online success
Tips for online success 2
Tips for being a successful online learner
21things4students by REMC-RITS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at 21things4teachers.net.
