Currently, I extend the classroom using Blackboard. Assignments are posted, extra help is posted, some answers are posted as well. I would like to extend further by putting course content online. Some fo the content will be as screen casts using Camtasia and some will be the posting of presentations used in the course. I would like to conduct review sessions live online (using something like AdobeConnect) - but my Geometry classes include 110 students, which would require a pretty hefty licensing fee. I am planning to do the reviews as screencasts as well - it would give the students the ability to listen several times over with a lot of visual material to help out.
As a student Navigating the Land of Online Learning, it seemed that being informed about the course, the computer, having an internet computer, how the course is valued by the school and knowing the rules of the course all contribute towards a successful conclusion of the course. One item not mentioned is that the student must be motivated and interested - the student needs to put in the time and effort to complete the course. What is necessary:
Dealing with asynchronous classes.
Having internet access. Mac? PC? Both?
Finding the course that you need or really want to take.
Finding the parameters from the teacher
Keep parents in the loop
Check on the cost, if any
I would hope that online courses would help grow a students creativity and capacity for innovation, but realistically think that it would be hard to grow in this manner individually versus being in a group setting.
Certainly, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making would be part of any class - we hope to be creating tomorrow's thinking adults. As for Technology Operations and Concepts, certainly just completing and participating in an online course implies a level of competence in the technology area.
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