Experiences on electuring undergraduate chemistry

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Experiences on e-lecturing undergraduate
chemistry

• Asbjørn Aarflot

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Overview

• Distance course in introductory chemistry
• My own role as teacher
• Feedbacks from students
• My advice

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Distance course in introductory chemistry

• 10 ECTS
• Taught both on campus and as a distance course
  with same exam
• Starts in February and ends in December
• Weekly assignment, 60 mandatory
• 5 laboratory sessions, 4 hours each, local or at
  UiB
• Laboratory reports, pass
• Mid term exam, multiple choice, 2 hours, 20
• Lab exam, multiple choice, 1 hour, 10
• Final written exam, 4 hours, 70
• Students are mostly teachers at secondary or high
  school

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E-learning environment

• Commercial software utilizing the following tools
• Discussion forum
• Report tool/hand in management
• Equation editor
• News/messages
• Portfolio
• Test (multiple choice, text, quiz)
• Chat
• Flash lectures
• Normal book, Introductory Chemistry (Russo)
• Hand outs

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Technical Pros and cons

• Cons
• Lack of intercompatibility
• Test tool, Equation editor
• Browser specific problems
• Require java for chat and equation editor
• Pros
• Very easy and efficient to manage
• Can comment directly in a document of any format!
• Easy to customize layout

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My role

• Assignments
• Pick good ones
• Keep track and comment
• Technical support to students
• Make and correct midterm and lab exam
• Make relevant documents available
• Assist students at laboratory course (2 weeks)
  and correct and approve their reports
• Act as facilitator and moderator of discussion
  forum
• Some administration (whos in, practical
  arrangements)

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Difficulties with e-lecturing

• Students attitude
• Reluctant to share knowledge/questions
• Demand personal comments
• Too easy to give up without (physical) commitment
• Do not e-socialize
• Difficult to organize group work
• Very time consuming if all administration,
  design, software and pedagogy is new

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Students evaluation

• Put emphasis on technical support
• Quick response from teacher/assistant is
  important
• Personal comments are valued high
• Need weekly assignments for progression (self
  assessment)
• Though credits (especially lab.work)
• Many value the discussion forum high, but only 20
  participate actively
• Chat is important for communications between
  students
• Convenient way to study when campus studies is
  not an alternative
• Flash lectures are nice, but not essential

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My advise

• Devote time for
• Preparations (setting up classroom and
  familiarize new learning environment
• Tech support
• Social support on discussion board
• Not always necessary to make fancy flash lectures
• Use and facilitate use of discussions as much as
  possible in the beginning of a course ? starts
  the ball rolling
• Tailor assignments in a way that (sometimes)
  indirectly force students to use the discussion
  forum
• Have more persons involved or maybe a single
  person that helps with designing and
  administrating the course