Title: Developing the Aurion Strategy 20072010
1Supporting Online Learners Moving Towards
Communities of Practice
Fiona Quigley, Director of Learning
Innovation, Aurion Learning
2Course Structure
- Defining Understanding eTutoring
- Critique of eSessions Lessons Learned
- Learning Theory Good Practice
- Exploring Understanding Fronter Tools
- Reviewing Internet Course for Collaboration
Points
3Understanding eTutoring
Its Teaching Jim, But Not as We Know it
(Gilly Salmon, Professor of learning,
University of Leicester, 2006)
4Definition of an eTutor
- Role of eTutor varies what is the NCTE
definition? - Example Competencies (http//www.iitt.org.uk/publ
ic/standards/etutorcomp.asp)
- Plan how eTutoring will be employed
- Establish the technical facilities necessary to
support eTutoring - Establish relationships with new learners
- Communicate appropriately with learners
- Provide administrative support
- Provide learners with technical and subject
matter expertise - Initiate activities that will facilitate learning
- Provide learners with support and encouragement
- Assess learners' performance
- Use Web pages for communication with and between
learners - Use e-mail for communication with learners
- Use bulletin boards discussion forums for
communication with between learners - Use text, audio and video conferencing for
communication with and between learners - Evaluate and continuously improve e-tutoring
support
- Plan how eTutoring will be employed
- Establish the technical facilities necessary to
support eTutoring - Establish relationships with new learners
- Communicate appropriately with learners
- Provide administrative support
- Provide learners with technical and subject
matter expertise - Initiate activities that will facilitate learning
- Provide learners with support and encouragement
- Assess learners' performance
- Use Web pages for communication with and between
learners - Use e-mail for communication with learners
- Use bulletin boards discussion forums for
communication with between learners - Use text, audio and video conferencing for
communication with and between learners - Evaluate and continuously improve e-tutoring
support
5eTutor Jackie of all Trades!
Technical / Usability Support
(Online) Learning Facilitator
Subject MaterExpert
??? Question Which one of the three is most
important?
6eTutor Jackie of all Trades!
Technical / Usability Support
(Online) Learning Facilitator
- ??? Answer
- All three are important, but at different stages
of the online course - Why, Where, How?
Subject MaterExpert
7Model of Online CommunicationGilly Salmon,
eModerating
eTutoring / Moderating
Technical Support
Level of Interactivity
8Tasks for eTutors
??? Question Using Gilly Salmons Model, what
could be useful tasks for eTutors to do at each
stage, using a 6 week timeframe?
Wk?
Personalised Welcoming email
PC Setup Checklist Check first access
1
Ice Breakers, Introductions, Expectations
Post Online Messages Check Who is Online
2
Posting/Negotiating Learning Plan Collaboration
Overview of Learning Environment Tools
3-5
Facilitating Discussions Summarising
Netweaving
Support in Using Collaboration Tools
3-5
Supporting, Responding Communities of Practice
Links to external websites
6
9Facilitation Skills for eTutors
- Initiating learning
- Negotiating learning
- Summarising learning
- Netweaving keeping the learning going
- Encouraging non-participants (lurkers) or
people reluctant to participate - Making use of higher contributors
- Deliberately provoking controversy?
??? Question Lets look at the Transcripts of
the two Esessions to see if we can find evidence
of these? Can you think of any others? Is there
anything you would do better?
10Example of Facilitation Skills for eTutors
11Challenges for eTutors
- Time Commitment eTutor Contract
- Getting to know / getting the best from the
Learning Environment - Encouraging non-participants or lurkers
- Sorting out Technical Problems
??? Question Can you think of any others?
12Summary Understanding eTutoring
- Role can be varied helpful for tutors to work
with NCTE to fully define commitment - eTutor contract a useful starting point
reviewing the Institute of IT Training Standards
eTutor Competencies - Understand two main dimensions to eTutoring
Technical Learning Support (Content Learning
Tasks) - Gilly Salmons five stage Model helps to support
learner progress keep both aspects of eTutor
role in mind - Tips Tricks
- PC Set up Checklist to all learners
- Initial Welcoming Email
- Negotiate Learning Plan Collaboration Points
with Group - Accept that some Lurkers are inevitable!
13Critique of two eSessions
- How did you feel as a learner?
- Did you understand what you were supposed to do?
- Did you learn anything useful?
- How did this online first meeting compare to
meeting people in a face-to-face session for the
first time? - Where you surprised by anyones online behaviour?
- How did you feel about posting information?
- What about the eTutor did they do as you
expected? If not, what did you expect? - Where there any differences between eSession1
eSession2
- How did you feel as a learner?
- Scared, Anxious, Excited, Slightly Disoriented!
- Did you understand what you were supposed to do?
- Clearer in eSession2, had some technical problems
in eSession1 - Did you learn anything useful?
- I think so!
- How did this online first meeting compare to
meeting people in a face-to-face session for the
first time? - Easier for me!
- Where you surprised by anyones online behaviour?
- Yes cliques formed and jumping out to another
room - How did you feel about posting information?
- OK but I am used to this task just worried
about my spelling! - Some time delay problems made posting difficult
- Where there any differences between eSession1
eSession2 - More structure less people
14Online Collaboration Theory Good Practice
- We will touch upon these theories
- Pedagogy Andragogy
- Instructivism Constructivism
- Blooms Taxonomy
- Adult Motivation
- Engagement Theory
- Problem-Based Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Reflective Practice
Why? eTutoring is as much about teaching people
how to learn as it is about the content!
15Learning Theory Good Practice
Its Teaching Jim, But Not as We Know it
(Gilly Salmon, Professor of eLearning, University
of Leicester, 2006)
Its Learning Jim, But Not as We Know it
(Fiona Quigley, AurionLearning, 2007)
Learning is what most adults will do for a
living in the 21st century(S.J. Perelman)
16Teaching Students how to Learn
Changing Roles in Online Learning Environments
Instructor Role
- Face-to-Face
- From passive receptacles
- From memorization of facts
- From passive learning,
- Online
- To constructors of their own knowledge
- To problem solvers
- To active learners
17Teaching Students how to Learn
Changing Roles in Online Learning Environments
Learner Role
- Face-to-Face
- From lecturer
- From provider of answers.
- From provider of content.
- From total control of the teaching/learning
environment - From teacher directed.
- Online
- To Guide and resource provider
- To expert questioner
- To designer of student learning experiences
- To sharing with the student as a fellow learner
- To learner centred
18Adult Learning Theory
Definition of Pedagogy The art and science of
teaching children?
Definition of Andragogy Andragogy is the art and
science of helping adults learn. (Malcom
Knowles 1970)
??? Question What are the characteristics of
children as learners vs adults? Should teaching
adults mean a different teaching focus?
19Andragogic model
- This Model asserts that five issues be considered
and addressed in formal learning - (1) Letting learners know why something is
important to learn - (2) Showing learners how to direct themselves
through information - (3) Relating the topic to the learners'
experiences - (4) People will not learn until they are ready
and motivated to learn. - (5) Requires helping them overcome inhibitions,
behaviours, and beliefs about learning.
20What does this mean in an Online Context?
- We need to use learning strategies to keep adult
motivated engaged - Letting learners know why something is important
to learn - Good Course Orientation
- (2) Showing learners how to direct themselves
through information - Good Course Orientation
- (3) Relating the topic to the learners'
experiences. - Asking about their experiences Profiles,
Critical Thinking Reflection - (4) People will not learn until they are ready
and motivated to learn - Problem-Based Learning, Realism, Authenticity
not learning for learnings sake! - (5) Requires helping them overcome inhibitions,
behaviors, and beliefs about learning. - Support Encouragement adult baggage!
21Online Student Interaction model
Fronter Virtual Learning Environment
NCTE Internet Teaching Learning Course 7
Modules
- Collaboration Tools
- Discussion
- Chat
- Stickies / Email
- Links
Student
Basic Understanding, Knowledge Comprehension
(Bloom Level 1 2)
Promote Higher Level Thinking, Critical Thinking
Reflection) (Bloom Levels 3-6)
22Online Teaching Model Managed Constructivism!
- Online course collaboration tools enable
students to interact with course content, the
tutor their peers - Students can negotiate meaning of course content
through these interactions creating the
potential for deeper and longer lasting learning - Constructivist view of learning (Learners have
ideas!) - Learning active process of constructing rather
than acquiring knowledge - People learn through interaction with their
world - People develop knowledge through social
interaction
23Helping to Motivate Adults to Learn
- Motivating busy adults to learn is the single
biggest challenge in promoting sustaining use
of online collaboration tools
??? Question What would motivate you to learn?
What would put you off?
- Interesting statistic
- 25 of a group usually post
- 10 of the group post 80 of the responses
24Adult Motivation Theory Kellers ARCs Model
- John Keller synthesized existing research on
psychological motivation and created the ARCS
model (Keller, Educational Psychologist, 1987) - Attention Catching keeping the learners
attention - Relevance Attention motivation is not
normally maintained, so need to answer whats
in it for me at an early stage in a course! - Confidence learners must be confident that they
will be able to achieve course objectives that
they wont take too much time or effort - Satisfaction learners need some sort of
satisfaction or reward for their learning!
The success or failure of any e-learning
initiative can be closely correlated to learner
motivation
25Adult Motivation What can eTutors Do?
Asking thought provoking questions variety of
stimulus
Stating tangible, work-related benefits
Estimates of learning times learning progress
reports
Something real that can be used e.g. CPD points
or a prize!
The success or failure of any e-learning
initiative can be closely correlated to learner
motivation Drop outs need to be analysed!
26Engagement Theory
A framework for technology-based teaching
learning
Students must be meaningfully engaged in learning
activities through worthwhile tasks and
interaction with others. (Greg Kearsely Ben
Shneiderman)
1. Relate
2. Create
2. Donate
Project-based
Have an outside (authentic) focus
Occur in a group context are collaborative
27Problem/Project Based Learning
How can I get my students to think?
An instructional method that challenges students
to "learn to learn," working cooperatively in
groups to seek solutions to real world problems.
- Basic Principles
- Has a real-world component solve an authentic
problem! - Students must identify what they know, what they
dont know and work to fill the gaps! - Students must go beyond course material
- Tutor must not provide answers, but merely
facilitate the group process (e.g. provide links
to resources to help) - Sometimes competition helps!
??? Question What are the challenges with
Problem-Based Learning? Are there any
disadvantages?
28Problem Based Learning - Challenges
- Difficult to come up with truly real problems
within the context of the course - Timeframe issues is a 6 week timeframe long
enough? - Takes a lot of preparation research from the
eTutor - Challenges the traditional role of the student
- Challenges the traditional role of the tutor
29Critical Reflective Thinking
Or, Learning how to Learn!
Reflection turns experience into meaningful
learning, helps us to make sense of the world
around us and to learn from previous experience.
- Stages of Critical Reflective Thinking
- Learn something new accept basic facts
- Revisit basic facts what do you recall?
- What other facts are behind the facts?
- What do these facts mean to me in my life /
work? - How can I use these facts in my life / work?
30Promoting Reflection with Questioning
Critical Reflective thinking teasing out
learning
- Q. What did Jack do when he got to the giant's
castle?" - A. Jack hid from the giant, found the goose that
lays the golden eggs, was discovered by the
giant, fled, reached the bottom of the vine, and
then chopped it down. The giant, of course,
tumbles down, breaks his neck, and Jack lives
happily every after with his mother and his newly
found wealth. - Q. Did Jack trespass illegally?
- A. Yes!
- Q. Did Jack steal the goose that lays golden
eggs?" - A. Yes!
- Q. Did Jack, then, refuse to give back what did
not belong to him? - A. Yes!
- Q. Then did Jack escape down the bean vine and
cause the giant to be killed?" - A. Yes!
- Q. If Jack trespassed, stole, and murdered the
giant, why is the giant the villain of this
story?
31Exploring Fronter Tools
- Discussion a number of types
- Discussion - Traditional threaded discussion,
replies under Topics - Conversation - One Threaded discussion, all
replies listed in chronological order. - Debate - Unthreaded discussion, like
Conversation, with option for the user to take a
position from a predefined list. - Questions and Answers - Any user can post a
contribution/question, but only a selected user
or group of users are allowed to reply/answer. - Brainstorm - All postings are placed as notes
onto the page, side by side. - Chat some technical issues?
- Stickies
- See Whos Online
- Bulletin Board
- Links
- Any other tools?
32Exploring Fronter Tools best way to use?
- Asynchronous versus Synchronous learning
- Using the Different Discussion Types
- (Discussion, Conversation, Debate, Questions
Answers Brainstorm) - Chat good for online socialisation
- Stickies?
- See Whos Online check for lurkers!
- Bulletin Board?
- Links different type of contribution
33Reviewing Internet Course
- What wed said so far Understanding eTutoring
Learning Theory - eTutor as a facilitator of learning
- eTutor as technical support
- Motivation and drop out can be a problem for
adults - Adults need meaning, authenticity always ask
whats in for me? - Adults bring baggage have their own ideas on
learning important to - extract these perhaps negotiate learning
- Theory of engagement relate, create donate
outside focus for tasks important - Problem-based learning adults like to solve
problems - Critical and Reflective thinking the basis of
learning, so should be encouraged explained,
if required (see handout)
34Looking for Support Collaboration Points
- Gilly Salmons Model for Online Communication
- Portfolio Activities
- Reflection Text input questions in Modules
- How can we use the results of collaboration
remember outside focus is important! - Any other ideas?