Graphic Organizer-FINALLY able to Post

Created By: RaKinah Fletcher

Strategies and Tools Graphic Organizer

This Graphic Organizer gives an overview of my view of  Durrington, and Seimens' ideas of engaging learners, especially online.  CCC, Collaboration, Content, and Communication are the keys to engagement.  The online learner must be familiar with the content and in the organizer I chose eBooks, Theory, Rubrics, and Syllabi to highlight because these are as essential as a map in a forein land.  Students need to know where their final destination is and how to get there the most successful way.  Within the Collaboration circle I delegated -learning teams and conference calls  as great collaboration strategies; along with wikis and blogging because of the necessity for differentitated instruction for different learning styles as well as the need to belong as it relates to a learning community.  Communication was the most inclusive because all of the Cs could fit easily within the realm of communication; however, the communication between peers and with the instructor provides the trust factor that is necessary in successful learning communities.  The tools here are as innovative as Texting, Facebook, Twitter, among other Social networking sites.  I also chose Skype and email. One on one telephone calls could also be a beneficial tool and strategy in engaging students and especially adult learners.

Module 3 BLOGGING and Collaborative Learning

How should participation in a collaborative learning community be assessed?
Participation in learning communities should be assessed with the outcome of the product requested to be created.  Usually collaborative learning requires many parts to a whole, similar to Seimens' (2011) analogy to the completion of an airplane.  Learning community assessment should be fair to all parties involved, and it is not a mention of the amount of feedback from each of the participants but how participants work together to understand the concept being taught and the final product. 

How do the varying levels of skill and knowledge students bring to a course affect the instructor's 'fair and equitable assessment' of learning?
The fair and equitable portion of assessment depends on the relationship with the facilitator and the student.  Teachers are faced with this problem on a daily basis when required to make accommodations for special education students.  Student rapport is important because of the amount of learning from the beginning to the end of the term can not be determined without knowing where the individual levels are from the start.  Each student brings knowledge and experiences to the group when collaborating and creates a unique view for the group to analyze and eventually come to a consensual agreement on how to present or complete the project.

If a student does not want to network or collaborate in a learning community for an online course, what should the other members of the learning community do?
Learning community members should attempt to reach out to the non participants for feedback and to question their well being in hopes to create a relationship.  The relationship formed should spark a sense of community and increase their participation in the community.  According to Seimens, there is a sense of hesitation when participating in a group because of individualized instruction throughout history. Encouragement of communication  and feedback is detrimental when collaborating in a learning community.

What role should the instructor play?
The instructor should be the facilitator in the learning community- fostering a pleasant urging of communication among group members.  The instructor should also probe students to think outside the box and add to the discussion. 

What impact would this have on his or her assessment plan?
The assessment plan would have to be based on a rubric and it will be the discretion of the instructor to determine the amount of knowledge gained throughout the process of the group assignment.  Each individual in the group will be graded individually and possibly as a concerted team effort toward a genuine sense of community within the group. 

Seimen's Video on WaldenU.edu

What fuels your fire? (Learning communities)

Moller et al (2005) examine a group of graduate students to determine if learning communities have an impact on motivation.  Their rationale was that learning groups add to the motivation of learning by individuals based on previous studies.  I agree with this hypothesis and would set out to examine this phenomena on a high school or middle school level.  It was a small study group of 51 participants and the results yeilded a definate yes motivation is positively affected.  Moller et al (2005), "membership in a learning community can promotecommunication, social interaction, and deeper understanding. This, in turn, increases motivation,which strengthens the community."(p. 141).  As an awardee of an online degree and the pursuant of another, I would say that the online community does spark the individual competetive nature.  Within the competition there is motivation to be better than the best.  The challenge is the fuel the motivation is the fire.

REFERENCE
Moller, L., Huett, J., Holder, D., Young, J., Harvey, D., & Godshalk, V. (2005).  Examining the impact of learning communities on motivation. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 6(2), 137−143

LINKS to RESOURCES

UPDATE... Student Achievement Distributed education and its challenges: An overview Relationships between interactions and learning ONLINE Ponder University Case Study:I Ponder University Case Study: II

Technology

As I travelled today at approximately 80 MPH I wondered, how I ever made the 6 hour trip without my iPhone, Blackberry, or SmartPhone of choice.  At every stop, I checked my Facebook, text messaged my friends and husband, listened to my favorite playlists, and found the nearest gas station with the cheapest gas. I also wondered why there was not a blogger app.  The reach of technology is astounding ! When I was on a two lane road with cattle  and nothing but land, my iPhone was ready for my touch to give me any information I desired.  This trip has confirmed my choice in pursuing my Ph.D. in Educational Technology.  Next school year, I will create a blog that will enhance the learning of my students by incorporating more technology than ever before!