Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Responses to Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tool (October 23, 2013)

Responses to Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tools

I posted comments to the following classmates:

Solita Shelton -

http://solitashelton.blogspot.com/2013/10/tools-and-strategies-in-distance.html?showComment=1382583263727#c8278481547449675022

Ann Kelley -

http://annkelley8.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/educ-7102-module-4-graphic-organizer/comment-page-1/#comment-40

Vaughn

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Responses to Assessing Collaborative Efforts (October 12, 2013)

Responses to Assessing Collaborative Efforts (October 12, 2013)

I posted comments to the following classmates:

Sherri Fleicher -

http://msfleischer.blogspot.com/2013/09/acceptance-of-distance-education-in.html?showComment=1381609590848#c7153605151804230000

Segla Kossivi -

http://skossivi.blogspot.com/2013/10/assessing-collaborative-efforts_5252.html?showComment=1381608315820#c300434805050610649

Vaughn

Responses to Video Presentation: Post Storyboard on Blog (October 12, 2013)

Responses to Video Presentation: Post Storyboard on Blog

I have posted comments to the following classmates:

Nicolas Lapoujade -

https://lapoujade.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/initial-storyboard-for-de-video/#comment-13

Stacey Donaldson -

http://staceydonaldson.wordpress.com/learner-engagement-storyboard/comment-page-1/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog

Vaughn

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Assessing Collaborative Efforts (October 6, 2013)

Assessing Collaborative Efforts * Blog Post #3
Facilitators are able to use different methods to assess student participation within a collaborative learning community. Educators that utilize a learning management system can assess their students on (a) how many times their students logon, (b) how many hours their students spend online, (c) how many times their students spend on the group – related activities, and (d) how many posts their students contribute within a learning discussion or activity (Laureate Education, 2008). George Siemens (Laureate Education, 2008) says assessment is to be fair, equitable, direct, and relating to student outcomes. One of the best ways to support student participation within a collaborative learning community is to have the facilitator change their assessment model. An example is to have learners’ role – play participating within their high – functioning learning community (Laureate Education, 2008).  Designers look towards creating both individual and community relating activities.
If a student does not want to network or collaborate in a learning community for an online course, there is potential for a systemic breakdown. It will be necessary for members of the learning community to understand their role within the online learning community. Cooperation among group members is critical for the purpose of completing tasks (Laureate Education, 2008). Group members establish guidelines, expectations and establish agreements within their organization. Facilitators can support a successful collaborative online environment by (a) showing competence, (b) communicating clearly with learners, (c) creating a safe container for the group, (d) connecting and relating with learners, and (e) promoting self – organization and empowerment (Palloff & Pratt, 2005, p. 17). Siemens (Laureate Education, 2008) says a successful collaborative online environment has several characteristics. Collaborative online environments have a high level of trust. Collaborative online environments provide information sources. Collaborative online environments allow learners to engage in relationships with tightly knit groups (Laureate Education, 2008).
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Principles of Distance Education. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. 
SanFrancisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Video Presentation: Post Storyboard on Blog (October 6, 2013)





Video Presentation: Post Storyboard on Blog


The requirement for this assignment is to introduce a keynote speaker at a distance education conference. The speaker for the conference is the originator of Connectivism, George Siemens. Siemens is a professor at the Center for Distance Education. He also conducts research at the Technology Enhanced Research Institute at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada. The central theme for the conference is learning assessment and distance education. The conference explores how distance education provides an opportunity to incorporate more authentic forms of assessment where learners are able to construct their own knowledge and learn from each other. The conference also examines how distance education learning provides an effective environment that bridges the gap between research and practice. I will introduce Dr. Siemens by providing a video which explores ways in which distance education environments provide authentic learning assessments.  Below is my tentative story board which describes the video introduction of the guest speaker.   

Visual/Description
Narration/Key points
Original music plays, with graphical display of: “World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development” (approximately 10 seconds).
I will welcome faculty, students and guests to the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development. I will also state the central theme of the conference which is learning assessment and distance education.
 
Photo of Keynote speaker George Siemens. Retrieved from: [Photographs of George Siemens]. (ca. 2007 – 2012). George Siemens Learning Analytics
Leading Education Innovation
I will state the purpose for introducing the keynote speaker George Siemens. As a means of support for Professor Siemen’s topic, I will give an exploration of how distance education environments support learning assessment.
Distance Education and Learner Assessment will display on the screen. There will be a display of two other pics of George Siemens [Photographs of George Siemens]. (ca. 2007 – 2012). George Siemens Learning Analytics
Leading Education Innovation  (approximately 5 seconds).
 
 
 
Contemporary music will play in the background.
Graphical display of : Use of Technology to Engage Learners (10 secs). Short video clips of students using technology as they learn (30 secs)
 
 
Music continues. I will speak on how Distance education instructors are using assessment as a tool to measure the effectiveness of the distance education platform as a learning space. However, there are limits to research on how to measure successful learning, transfer of learning, and achievement of learning outcomes within distance learning environments (Chapman & Stone, 2010, p. 667).
 
 
Video clips of students engaged in online collaboration is shown (approximately15 seconds).
 
 
 
 
 
The music will begin to fade. I will discuss the challenge of changing assessment models from individual learning to a model that supports collaborative learning (Laureate Education, 2008).
 
“Four models for assessment in a collaborative environment” will display (approximately 5 seconds). Responses will display afterwards which include “(a) students assess their peer such as rating schemes, (b) students receive feedback from online communities such as list-serves, (c) educators assess based on student contributions such as wikis, and (d) educators assess based on metrics from learning management systems” (approximately 1 minute).
 
 
I will speak about the four models of assessment in a collaborative environment (Laureate Education, 2008).
“Log - On”, “Hours Online”, “Group – Related Activities” and “Post Contributions” will display on the screen (approximately 5 seconds). Next a video clip of a student working on a computer will be for display.
 
 
 
 
I will speak on how learning management systems allow educators to assess student learning (Palloff & Pratt, 2005)
 
Display of computer labs within a school building (approximately 1 minute)
 
 
 
 
I will speak about the characteristics that support learning assessment through online environments.
.
Video clips of teachers working on computers (approximately 30 seconds).
 
 
 
 
I will speak on how scholars will benefit from types of assessment that utilizes teaching pedagogies that are effective. Assessment should focus on better understanding potential in learning indeterminate personal and social metamorphic potential (Willnk & Jacobs, 2012, p. 147).
 
 
Video clips of teachers working on computers (approximately 30 seconds)
 
 
 
I will describe blackboard as a learning management system that allows educators to assess students (Debuse & Lawley, 2011, p. 163).
“Fair and Direct”, “Based on Student Outcomes”, and “Equitable” will display on the screen (Approximately 10 seconds). The next display will show students working on computers (Approximately 10seconds).
 
 
I will speak about the concept of online assessment (Laureate Education, 2008).
 
 
Multiple teachers working on computers will display on the screen (approximately 30 seconds). I will come on display reading behind a podium (approximately 30 seconds).
 
 
Contemporary music will continue and I will discuss how assessment provides an opportunity for teacher to give feedback and for students to evaluate online course learnings (Laureate Education, 2008). Debuse and Lawley (2011) state that students believe online assessments provides strong educational, economic, and environmental benefits. Online assessments have few drawbacks (p. 169).
Applause audio clip displays with a photo of keynote speaker, George Siemens (approximately15 seconds).
 
 
 
Photos of Keynote speaker George Siemens. Retrieved from: [Photographs of George Siemens]. (ca. 2007 – 2012). George Siemens Learning Analytics
Leading Education Innovation
I will say, “Distance education instructors are using assessment as a tool to measure the effectiveness of the distance education platform as a learning space” (Chapman & Stone, 2010, p. 667).  Afterwards, I will say, “It gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker, George Siemens”.
 
 

 References
Ajunwas, O. S. U. (2010) Integration group – self evaluation in open and distance learning
system. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 11(4) 76 - 80.
Amway, K.M.Y., Mayadas, A. F. (2010). The sloan – c pillars: towards a balanced approach to measuring organizational learning. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14(2) 45 - 52.
Chapman, D. D., & Stone, S. J. (2010). Measurement of outcomes in virtual environments.
Advances in Human Resources 12(6), 665–680. doi: 10.1177/1523422310394792
Debuse, J. C. W., & Lawley, M. (2011). Using innovative technology to develop sustainable
assessment practices in marketing education. Journal of Marketing Education 33, 160 –
170. doi: 10.1177/02773475311410848
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Principles of Distance Education. Baltimore, MD: Author.
McCarthy, W. C., Green, P. J., & Fitch, T. (2010). An examination of collaborative learning
assessment through dialogue (CLAD). Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 23(2).
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2007). Building online learning communities: Effective strategies for
the virtual classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
[Photographs of George Siemens]. (ca. 2007 – 2012). George Siemens Learning Analytics
Leading Education InnovationWillink, K. G., & Jacobs, J. M. (2012). Teaching for change: articulating, profiling, and
assessing transformative learning through communicative capabilities. Journal of
Transformative Education 9, 143 – 164. doi: 10.1177/1541344611436012