The IRRODL (International Review of Research in Online and Distance Learning) is a great resource for online teachers. http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/index
As I was looking through the latest issue (Vol 12, No 3 (2011): Special Issue - Connectivism: Design and Delivery of Social Networked Learning - I noticed that any of the refereed publications can be accessed by HTML PDF MP3 or EPUB. This means I can listen as well as read. Good for them!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Humor in Teaching
In the March 2011 issue of JOLT magazine (http://jolt.merlot.org)
Donna Gayle Anderson Instructor, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, TX 75429 USA donna_anderson@tamu-commerce.edu
reports on adding humor to a class with low student retention, Production Operations Management.
http://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no1/anderson_0311.htm
I was interested because humor can be a tricky thing online. What the author did was link to YouTube videos that showed humorous situations of production operations such as an "I Love Lucy" segment on Lucy's schedule. The retention in the class improved significantly and students felt they were welcome. Of course the author also notes that she was an active participant in the class, which does make a difference.
Donna Gayle Anderson Instructor, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, TX 75429 USA donna_anderson@tamu-commerce.edu
reports on adding humor to a class with low student retention, Production Operations Management.
http://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no1/anderson_0311.htm
I was interested because humor can be a tricky thing online. What the author did was link to YouTube videos that showed humorous situations of production operations such as an "I Love Lucy" segment on Lucy's schedule. The retention in the class improved significantly and students felt they were welcome. Of course the author also notes that she was an active participant in the class, which does make a difference.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Scholarship in Teaching
http://www.itl.usyd.edu.au/projects/scholarshipproject/model.htm
The Australian "Scholarship in Teaching" began in 1999 as a collaborative effort in three Australian institutions with the aims:
•To improve teaching, and the recognition and reward of teaching, through the development of scholarship in teaching in four universities.
•To improve teaching, and the recognition and reward of teaching, in the United National System in general through the development and dissemination of two self-help modules on scholarship in teaching.
They have developed the modules. I cannot find any research on whether this model actually improved teaching scholarship.
The Australian "Scholarship in Teaching" began in 1999 as a collaborative effort in three Australian institutions with the aims:
•To improve teaching, and the recognition and reward of teaching, through the development of scholarship in teaching in four universities.
•To improve teaching, and the recognition and reward of teaching, in the United National System in general through the development and dissemination of two self-help modules on scholarship in teaching.
They have developed the modules. I cannot find any research on whether this model actually improved teaching scholarship.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE October 2010 ISSN 1302-6488 Volume: 11 Number: 4 Article 12 article "ARE YOU A DREAM COME TRUE OR A NIGHTMARE? DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS IN THE FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE INSTRUCTOR" used a small group to examine what students said were positive and negative characteristics of teachers. The article is found here: http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde40/articles/article_12.htm; the authors,Dr. Barba Aldis PATTON and Dr. Teresa LESAGE are from the University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria, Tx USA. The tables produced are interesting, and the conclusion is: "The first recommendation is for instructors to communicate with their students." Why is that so difficult for so many online instructors?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I was impressed with the research behind this article and their conclusion:
Social Media
Effects of Twitter in an online environment http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=154-1
“First, there was much enthusiasm and participation noted by professors who use Twitter that was not echoed when a particular graduate student population was surveyed, this should be investigated. Speculated reasoning for this includes that if students are not already used to using Twitter it may appear as an extra chore or homework assignment for which they receive no reward. Second, should Twitter, or any social networking site for that matter, be pushed if students are satisfied with discussion boards? Possibly over the next few years, as LMSs develop and incorporate the ability to contribute to social networking sites from within, use will increase. However, for now, it would seem discussion boards are the place keep in-class participation.”
Social Media
Effects of Twitter in an online environment http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=154-1
“First, there was much enthusiasm and participation noted by professors who use Twitter that was not echoed when a particular graduate student population was surveyed, this should be investigated. Speculated reasoning for this includes that if students are not already used to using Twitter it may appear as an extra chore or homework assignment for which they receive no reward. Second, should Twitter, or any social networking site for that matter, be pushed if students are satisfied with discussion boards? Possibly over the next few years, as LMSs develop and incorporate the ability to contribute to social networking sites from within, use will increase. However, for now, it would seem discussion boards are the place keep in-class participation.”
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Online teaching persona
Good strategies for adding your own "teaching persona" to your online class. I don't agree with everything in this article, but the author makes good points. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/convey-your-online-teaching-persona/
I like the idea of a letter to students before class begins, but I am no longer sure the students need my picture.
I like the idea of a letter to students before class begins, but I am no longer sure the students need my picture.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Elixir and Merlot
Merlot has a great new resource for teachers: Elixr http://elixr.merlot.org/ From 2006 to 2010 the program was funded by FIPSI. The Case studies deal with faculy concerns about teaching with technology.
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