How to cope thrive with 400 students: meaningful an

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How to ltcopegt thrive with 400 students
meaningful and manageable communication in a
large online class

• Jonathan P. Mathews
• jmathews_at_psu.edu

Department of Energy Geo-Environmental
Engineering The John A. Dutton e-Education
Institute, College of Earth Mineral
Sciences The Pennsylvania State University
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Acknowledgements

• Eric Spielvogel
• Mark Wherley
• David DiBiase
• Sarma Pisupati
• David Babb
• Ann Luck
• Tom Miller (NCSU)
• Marty Gutowski
• Ralph Locklin
• Andrew Wiesner

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Communicate Before They Start
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(No Transcript)
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Help them to Start Quickly
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Tell them how to communicate
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Reject email sent to your email account

• Keep all the communication within ANGEL

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Control email rights
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Threaded Discussions for Content/Housekeeping
Questions
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Reward Communication
Link is here
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Announcements/Welcome Page
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Communicating Grades
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Unlock Items

• Provides confirmation of receipt
• Gates the students
• Who done it agent

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Communicate Deadlines (be consistent)

• Flexibility is the no. 1 reason for taking web
  classes.
• Too much flexibility is a bad thing!
• Use your own icons
• Due dates in the subheading
• Unlock items on delivery
• Automate enabled disabled
• Harass!
• Expect students to miss some activities (valid
  reasons)

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Gender and Weekday
More female students initiate lessons before
Thursday
Average scores for females remained steady
throughout the week.
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When to Intercede?
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Can we predict the flow of email?
Fall semester 2003
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How Much Communication?

• 420 students (sp 2004)
• 1,380 emails to me
• 1,325 emails from me
• 316 postings
• 276 posting replies (me)

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FeedbackAudio Containing Rubric
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Examples

• External Links (easy)
• Rapid Meaningful Communication
• Reflective Thought
• Ill described projects.

• Text
• Images (color)
• Audio
• Movies1 2
• Interactive Images 1 2
• Simulations1 2
• Crosswords
• Computer based testing

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Communications

• Use announcements Reminder emails (WhoDunIt)
• Threaded Discussions
• Quickeys software (a must have)
• Automate responses
• Personal Touch
• Use screen captures flash for explanations
• ANGEL for ALL communications
• Rapid but meaningful replies
• Bribe students to include photo icon in learner
  profile

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(No Transcript)
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Reflections
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Some Final Thoughts

• If it sounds good, youll hear it.
• If it looks good, youll see it.
• If it is marketed right, youll buy it.
• But if it is real, youll feel it!
• Kid Rock

• If it sounds good.
• You probably think you will get an A without any
  effort. (you will be disappointed)!
• If it looks good
• I didnt do it!
• If it is marketed right
• I would be wealthy
• If is was an experience
• -)

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Software Mostly for Mac users -)

• Quickeys http//www.cesoft.com/ PC/Mac
• Automation, message typing, much more
• Crosswords http//www.crauswords.com PC/Mac
• Crosswords and web applets
• Graphic Converter http//www.lemkesoft.com/ Mac
• Image capture processing image management
• SnapzPro http//www.ambrosiasw.com Mac
• Screen movie capture

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For More information

• jmathews_at_psu.edu
• 814 863 6213
• http//www.e-education.psu.edu/
• http//www.e-education.psu.edu/gened/egee101/index
  .shtml