Integrating Technology in Your Online Courses with the SAMR model

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Source: http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/2014/11/28/SAMRLearningAssessment.pdf

The other day, I was reading about the SAMR model for integrating technology. I'm currently revamping a class and developing another class using this model as a loose guideline for my efforts. As you probably already know, modifying an existing course requires you to rethink every part of a course and its activities. For an established course, this process can be a really time-consuming one. For online courses which depend greatly on technology for enhancing students' learning experience, the process of redesigning a course can be even more involved.

I find that something like the SAMR model can offer a "litmus" test with multiple levels to help you modify and redo learning activities. Using a visual representation of the SAMR model can be helpful when going through your process.  The key in using the SAMR model is to ask yourself HOW are students learning the content. If they are learning in basically the same way, then the design is an augmentation or substitution level. On the other hand, if students are learning in a deeper way, then the design is a redefinition or modification.

Course Design Tips for Micro learning

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Micro learning involves learning in "nuggets" or digestible chunks. Learning this way discourages the idea of mastering a topic but instead promotes learning information as it is needed. 

Teaching online requires teachers that are subject matter experts in addition to course designers. Micro learning supports this by presenting material in a less threatening way to students who may be easily intimidated. Also, creating learning "nuggets" allows you the freedom to present materials in different, more interesting ways rather than spend countless hours developing materials.

Here's how to do it.

Creating Custom Learning Pathways with Micro learning

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Micro learning involves learning in "nuggets" or digestible chunks. Learning this way discourages the idea of mastering a topic but instead promotes learning information as it is needed. 

Teaching online requires teachers to function as subject matter experts AND course designers. Teachers must design courses that inspire, stimulate and motivate students to learn on their own. Micro learning supports this by allowing teachers to customize content in a course. Customizing nuggets of relevant information on a topic empowers students to create their own learning pathways in a course. This in turns helps to motivate them to learn.

Here are some thoughts on how micro learning can be used to create custom learning pathways:

Easy Micro learning Strategies for Online Courses

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Micro learning involves in learning in "nuggets" or digestible chunks. Learning this way discourages the idea of mastering a topic but instead promotes learning information as it is needed. You can check out some resources on micro learning in my previous post entitled, Micro learning Basics.

Micro learning Basics

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Do you know what micro learning is? Micro learning is a newer way of learning in "nuggets" or digestible chunks. Learning this way discourages the idea of mastering a topic but instead promotes learning information as it is needed.

The table below compares micro learning to traditional learning:

WHITE PAPER: Getting Online Students to the Finish Line

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Image by Pixabay

This 13-page white paper from BlackBoard and EducationDIVE is a great little read that summarizes ways for administrators, course designers and faculty to encourage student success in their online courses.


I LOVE the quote from page 11 that reads, "[T]echnology isn't a silver bullet but it can make the day-to-day of faculty easier". I've said this for years to faculty who have asked me how it is to teach online. There are easy things about using technology for sure, but on the other hand, there is more work to stay engaged with students because of the lack of face-to-face interaction.

This white paper by Blackboard (popular LMS creator) and EducationDIVE (education news source) gives some really practical ways to retain online students. I've discussed many of these ideas here on this blog for the past year.

Get It Here:
Get a download of this white paper HERE. (Note: You'll need to fill out a short form first.)

7 Ways to "Teach" Your Online Students

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One challenge to teaching online is that there is no face-to-face interaction with students. I recently wrote a post about motivating students online. In it I compared techniques that I used online to simulate the face-to-face interactions I had with my students in the past.

In this post, I wanted to list the ways that I use to "teach" my online students during the course. I consider these opportunities to be "teaching moments". While these teaching moments are often just assumed when teaching in a classroom; in an online class, teachers really have to value these moments and go for them as much as possible.

Here are the ways that you can achieve "teaching moments" with online students:

CHECK IT OUT: TeacherCast.com

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About TeacherCast

TeacherCast is a FREE online resource for teachers started by Jeffrey Bradbury who has experience as an education consultant, broadcaster, and trainer. TeacherCast is one of his websites that  contains online workshops, reviews, broadcasts about education technology and a blog.

The TeacherCast website is run by various educators who contribute to different sections within TeacherCast. There are sections that are appropriate for K-12 and higher education. The TeacherCast consists of:

NEWS: 3PlayMedia's FREE WEBINAR on YouTube for Higher Education

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Image by Pixabay

YouTube is a FREE online video repository that allows you to subscribe to video channels of instructional videos and create/save your own videos for your courses. YouTube allows you to share your own video channel with relevant videos for your students to view. You can build video assignments that encourage students to connect in a deeper way to course material thus enhancing their learning.

3PlayMedia is sponsoring a FREE webinar on setting up your own video materials on YouTube for use in your classes.

How I Motivate Students in Online Courses

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Pixabay.com

I'm one of the many teachers who came to the online space after many years of working face-to-face. I taught face-to-face for about 10 years before I started teaching courses that were blended and subsequently 100% online. As a classroom teacher, I always knew that my job was to -

1) present the subject matter for students to learn (in my case it was computers, mathematics and business courses) AND
2) motivate students to invest in the course enough to succeed. 

Easy Use of Callouts for your Screenshots

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Last week, I was working on a print tutorial for a new class I am teaching in the fall semester. As I started using my callouts, I started thinking more about these little tools. So, I decided to write a little about them.
What are callouts? If you develop instructional materials, you'd know the answer.

Callouts are graphics with text, symbols or numbers that explain content. Most often, the content being explained is a graphic or some kind of illustration. Callouts consist of a shape containing some text and a pointer such as an arrow or line.

When I design instructional materials for publishing companies, I use callouts in teacher guides, student guides, on-screen lessons and in online assessments. When I teach courses online, my syllabus, rubrics and learning activities often contain callouts.

Yikes!...4 Teacher Mistakes to Avoid in Your Online Classes

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Have you ever had a "Yikes" moment in your teaching career? I had one in my very first semester of teaching over 25 years ago! I still remember it this day. I mistakenly gave material on an exam from a topic that I told students would not be on the exam. Yikes! Let's just say it was a small mutany. Even in my online teaching career (10 years in the making now), I've made blunders that I've had to "clean up" to avoid the mutany that inevitably follows.

FREE Technology Training for Online Teachers

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In a recent post about closing the digital skills gap in higher education, I mentioned ways that you could do this in your courses. The great thing is that while you are improving your students' technical skillsets, your own technical skillsets are also improved. So it is a win-win situation for you and your students.  Now, if you've been reading this blog for a bit, then you know that I am a technology consultant and teach math, business and computer courses online. Okay, I know what you are thinking. Since I'm a "computer teacher" and run a computer consultancy, updating my OWN technical skillsets comes easy. The question is what help is available for teachers who are NOT very tech savvy?

So, if you are not very tech, how can you update your own technical skillsets to keep up with your students and with the online education landscape? I work with many teachers on these very questions and aim to help where I can through my consultancy and by writing this blog.  In this post, I want to discuss some FREE and EASY ways that ALL teachers can update their technical skillsets to close their own digital skills gap and those gaps that their students may have.

5 Easy Ways to Bridge the Digital Skills Gap in Higher Education

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Recently, GROVO (a learning technology company) released a report on the digital skills gap in teachers and students in higher education. The report accurately points out 3 types of digital skills gaps that exist.

--> The first is a "generational gap" between college teachers and the students they teach.
--> The second is a "technological skills gap" in what college teachers know and what they should know.
--> The third is a "inequality gap" that describes the various levels of digital skills between students in college.

While the generational, technological and inequality gaps are presented differently in the GROVO report, I believe that they can be addressed by the way that we teach our students using technology. For instance, in my computer courses, the digital skills gap between different students is filled naturally by the content of the course. In all of my courses, I make a point to bridge the digital gaps between students AND between me and my students.

In requiring my students to use technology in my courses, I can continue to learn and update my own digital skills at the same time. In this article, I share 5 ways that I address the digital skills gaps in my classes:

REPORT: The New LMS: What should it do?

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Image by Pixabay. Keeping you update with education research around the Web!

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently teamed up with EDUCAUSE to identify gaps between current LMS tools and the needs of future learners. In a research report entitled "The Next General Digital Environment" they found that new LMS tools will need to be made more like "lego blocks". There is a need for highly customizable learning environments as opposed to standardized learning management systems. The KEY DIMENSIONS of the "New LMS" discussed in the report released by Educause are:

1) Interoperability and Integration - The ability to operate with different types of  plugins and external tools.

2) Personalization - The ability to allow learners to customize their own learning experiences and pathways.

3) Analytics, Advising and Learning Assessment - The ability to produce "actionable information" and support different assessment approaches specifically in competency-based education.

4) Collaboration - The ability to allow learners to collaborate inside and outside the learning environment.

5) Accessibility and Universal Design - The ability to enable ALL learners and instructors to access content and learning assets.

Read the full report at:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli3035.pdf

Cloud-Based AUDIO TOOLS

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--> Do you need narration for an online course or presentation?

--> Need to edit a podcast or interview for your next project?

--> Want to include a personalized message to your students on your website?

If you need to a program to create quick audio files or to edit an audio file that you already have, then don't worry. Luckily, there are plenty free and easy programs available online for your use. 




First, here's some essential facts about AUDIO that you need to know followed by a short list of some sites for creating and editing audio files:

NEWS: 3PlayMedia's Webinar on Video Captioning

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Keeping you update with education research around the Web!

This presentation on captioning for video was a particularly good one!  One interesting study quoted by 3Play Media was the University of Wisconsin found that 50% of their students were actually repurposing video transcripts as study guides. I did not know this but think this is a great idea. It goes to the fact that students are customizing their own pathways to learning. I am working on an upcoming article about this trend in education.

If you missed the webinar, not to worry. I've grabbed the link to 3PlayMedia's website on the notes for you.

Click HERE to view the slideshow.

Free VIDEO-CONFERENCING Tools

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One of the elements missing from online courses is real-time interaction.  Luckily, there are some ways to get around this. There are free, and easy programs available online for your use. First, here are some essential facts about VIDEO CONFERENCING followed by a short list of some sites that offer video conferencing options:

BLOG UPDATE: Getting Started GUIDE for Trending in Education BLOG

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Recently, I've been talking to some teachers about my blog's content. I found it a bit time consuming to try and tell them EVERYTHING that is going on with this blog. I had been planning to write a Getting Started GUIDE for awhile but felt that this was the best time.

So, check out my new Getting Started Guide for this blog to learn quick ways of getting to the information you need to find. 

FREE IMAGES for your Online Content

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If you are developing an online course or presentation, then you know that good pictures are worth their weight in gold! Whether you are developing content for a company or on your own, there is always a need for images that won't break the piggy bank are paramount. Luckily, there are TONS of free, professional-grade images available for your use. Here's a short list of some sites for free images.

CHECK IT OUT: E-Learning Heroes

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https://community.articulate.com/

About E-Learning Heroes
 

E-learning Heroes is the online community portion Articulate's website. Articulate is an e-learning software company that has created successful content development products such as Storyline and Articulate.

The E-Learning Heroes website is run by community leader Tom Kuhlmann who has over 20 years of experience in the business and is just loaded with tips, tricks and best practices.

Who is E-Learning Heroes intended for?
  content developer, course designers (including teachers!), e-learning specialists, instructional designers


Why use E-Learning Heroes?
 

I subscribe to E-Learning Heroes to receive emails from Tom about new additions to the community library. The uploaded templates, images, and multimedia files are great. The other experiential comments shared by members of the community give insights into solving the problems that online content developers encounter almost daily.

4 Quick takeaways about E-Learning Heroes
 
* It is the community "arm" of one of the powerhouse software companies in the e-learning field.
* It contains invaluable tutorials, tips and best practices for content developers.
* The downloads such as images and templates on E-learning Heroes website are FREE.

* The community members are friendly, comment often and willing to share their experiences.

Technologies that Promote Social Learning in Online Courses (Part 3)

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This is the third post in a series about technologies that promote social learning. The first post covered using discussion forums and the second post covered using wikis for social learning in online courses. So to recap, social learning is comprised of three situations -

* students helping one another learn
* students inspiring and motivating each other
* students teaching each other

Research on student success in online environments, clearly shows that students who learn socially increase their chances of success. We are the facilitators and course designers of the learning space that students find themselves in. To that end, how can we create online learning environments that encourage social learning? In this third and final post, I will talk about YET ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY for online course activities that promote social learning.

REPORT: US Dept. of Education | Ed Tech Developer's Guide

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Keeping you update with education research around the Web!

The U.S. Dept. of Education (Office of Educational Technology) has just released a primer for educational technology developers who produce apps and learning tools. What is great about this guide is that it contains valuable insight from long-time educators and practitioners in the education field about what is ACTUALLY NEEDED in the schools in terms of educational technology.

The Ed Tech Developer's Guide gives detailed information about districts, schools, teachers, and students all over the country. It also discusses practical issues such as design, teacher training, privacy and accessibility, purchasing and parental use of these tools.

It is a helpful guide intended for developers of educational technology and is smartly created using the advice and experience of those on the front lines. That's a win-win situation on any given day!

You can download the guide here:
http://tech.ed.gov/developers-guide/

CHECK THIS OUT! Pocket.com

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About Pocket.com
Pocket.com is a handy application that I just signed up for yesterday. The tagline on their website, GetPocket.com, states "when you find something you want to view later, put it in Pocket".

The Pocket application is free, displays on multiple devices through a synced web account and can be integrated with over 500 other applications such as Twitter, Google, Flipboard, etc. 

Who is Pocket.com intended for?
Anyone who needs to save information from the Internet. Pocket.com is great for consultants, designers, content developers and teachers.


Why use Pocket.com?

In my job, I use applications like Pocket to capture things from the Web such as images, text, entire webpages, newsletters, PDFs, etc. I like that Pocket allows you capture information from your browser, from your email and from other applications. 

The Pocket interface is very user-friendly and can easily be searched. You can view your articles and webpages offline once they are saved which is a real draw. 

Image: GetPocket.com

Check out GetPocket.com. You'll need to setup a free account with your name, email and password. Like many web-based applications, it is a "freemium", meaning that there is a free version and a paid one. I think that the free version is enough for this software in that you can save information from the different sources, syncs across multiple devices, search and viewing the information. The premium version offers a permanently saved archive for all of the materials you save, advanced search features, sorted search results and viewing recent searches.

5 Quick takeaways about Pocket.com

• It helps with information capturing, searching and storing.
• It can be used across multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers.
• It syncs information across the multiple devices so you have access to the latest updates.
• It allows you to save information from your web browser, email and other applications.
• It helps you easily search information that you save in your Pocket account.

*Note: I am not an affiliate of Pocket.com.

Technologies that Promote Social Learning in Online Courses (Part 2)

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pixabay.com

This is the second post in a series about technologies that promote social learning. The first post covered using discussion forums to encourage social learning in online courses. So to recap, what exactly is social learning? Basically, it is comprised of three situations - 

* students helping one another learn

* students inspiring and motivating each other
* students teaching each other

Research on student success in the online environment, clearly shows that students who learn socially increase their chances of success. We are the facilitators and course designers of the learning space that students find themselves in. To that end, how can we create online learning environments that encourage social learning? In this second post, I will talk about ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY for online courses that promotes social learning.

Technologies that Promote Social Learning in Online Courses (Part 1)

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I'm sure you've heard the phrase "social learning" being tossed around in the online education discourse for quite sometime. What exactly is social learning? Basically, it is comprised of three situations - 

* students helping one another learn

* students inspiring and motivating each other
* students teaching each other

In the online environment, we are the facilitators and the course designers of the learning space that students find themselves in. To that end, how can we create online learning environments that encourage social learning? In this post, I will talk about the MOST POPULAR course activity that promotes social learning and is the easiest to implement in courses.

WHITE PAPER: Grovo.com on Digital Skills Gap

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Keeping you update with education research around the Web!

Did you know that according to the Harvard Business Review, many of our students online (and offline) do not have the necessary skills to advance in the workforce? In my consultancy, I've written technology courses for 4th graders who need to be prepared as early as possible to enter a competitive, global workforce. That's right, I wrote 4th graders!

What about our existing higher education students? Many of them are returning to school after 20 years of working on the same job. Are they ready for the technological advances that are surely coming their way? Are we ready to teach our students what they need?

Read this white paper by Grovo.com to learn the 8 Core Digital Skills Essential for Teaching and Learning in the 21st century.

4 Types of Student Behaviors in Online Discussion Forums (Part 2)

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In Part 1 of this series, I talked about the behaviors I observed from my students in my weekly discussion forums. I identified four behaviors of my online students, namely - leaders, reactors, lurkers and slackers. So, as I ponder my students' behaviors online, I ask the question: Why do they behave this way? I used to think that student behavior in my online forums was mostly determined by their personalities. From my dissertation research and research "in the classroom", I've found that student behavior online has more to do with their motivation than with their offline personalities.  For instance, many of my "leader" students have told me that they are really shy in person. So, what makes them assume the "leader" behavior in the discussion forums?  Interesting.  I've continually looked at what motivates my students to participate in my courses (in particular, the weekly discussion forums) and how their participation affects their overall learning experience in my courses. Here's what I think. 

4 Types of Student Behaviors in Online Discussion Forums (Part 1)

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For my dissertation research, I studied the behaviors of users in online communities for 8 years.  I conducted a series of "ethnographic" studies on communities in which people shared career advice, shared personal stories, supported each other through hard times and tried new technologies together. I found that these learning communities provided support and enrichment opportunities for the participants. While teaching online, I've realized that the discussion forums in my courses have provided my students with the same opportunities as those participants I studied all those years ago.

WHITE PAPER: 3MediaPlay White Papers on Online Video Accessibility

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Image by Pixabay.
Keeping you update with education research around the Web!

3MediaPlay has a great set of informative white papers on making videos more accessible. Check out their white paper "bundle" HERE. (* You'll need to complete the short online form with your name and address)

10 Tips for Creating an Engaging Class Newsletter

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The other day, I was talking with another faculty member about class newsletters and he asked me how many times I email my students during the week. He was surprised when I told him that I have an email newsletter for the top, middle and bottom of the week. He told me that he only emails once a week mainly because he didn't know what to say in them other than remind students what to do for the week. For me, the class newsletter is not only an opportunity for me to interact with my students, but it is a great way for students to engage more with the class. 

20 Learning Activities for the Visual Learner

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When developing course activities, teachers must keep in mind that students learn in a variety of different ways. One common way that students learn is visually. Visual learners are those who process and assimilate information in a visual way. So, how can you design stimulating course activities that can enhance the learning experience for the student who is more visually-oriented? Luckily, web-based technologies make this task a little easier. As it turns out, there are many activities that can be designed (or redesigned) for the visual learner. In the list below, I've divided them up to make them easier to consider.

Technology Strategies for the Visual Learner

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Pixabay.com

When I was a student, my mathematics and computer courses required mostly analytical approaches to process information. The problem for me was that I was very visually-oriented. So, to compensate, I had to use many visual techniques and strategies to help me understand what the major concepts of a topic were, how they fit together and how they were related to other topics.  For instance, like most visual learners, I was uncomfortable learning topics sequentially. So, I had to develop my own systems for organizing information so that I could recall it whenever I needed to.

How to Subscribe to YouTube Video Channels for Educational Content

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YouTube Video Channels are collections of video content uploaded by the same person or organization. By subscribing to them, you are using YouTube as a PLN (personal learning network) for finding content from like-minded folks out there.  As a teacher and/or content developer, you can search for and subscribe to relevant YouTube Channels to get video content for your projects.   Here's how:

Best Places to Go for Online News about Teaching in Higher Ed

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Where can you get information about teaching college and teaching online?
 
The answer is lots of places! While the K-12 area is bustling with websites, online training programs and loads of resources for teachers, these resources can also be applied to higher education teachers. In addition, resources just for higher education teachers is indeed catching up. 

How to Choose a Cloud Storage Provider

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In the early days of my teaching career, I had an office, a desk full of lesson plans, a file cabinet full of textbooks, a computer and a printer.  Shortly after the Internet was introduced at my school, we received school email accounts. Later on, I found myself teaching faculty how to integrate technology in their classroom and so was given some storage space on the school's main network server.

Nowadays, teachers can use cloud storage over the Internet to store  lesson plans, online textbooks, media files and more. In order to get a cloud storage account, you will need to apply for one with a cloud storage provider.  Luckily, there are many cloud storage providers out there and the best news is that they are FREE!

Tips for Making Good Screen Captures

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Images are an essential part of any online document. They can be used to clarify, provide details and inspire your audience. Screen captures are customized images that you create from the contents on your computer screen. In order for these to work effectively, they must be created properly from the beginning. Below are some tips that I use for making my screen captures.

3 Tools for Creating a Screen Capture

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Whether you are a teacher or a content developer, the ability to capture your computer screen is essential. A screen capture is an image file that is created from taking a "snapshot" of the contents from a computer screen. This image can be used in text documents, slide presentations and even in video animations.

Tips for Creating Video Activities that Promote Deeper Learning

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Videos can provide an instant level of interest for any material. This is because videos invoke emotions and motivate students to learn in their own way. Videos can be used in course activities to promote deeper learning by helping students to pace themselves in learning about a topic, thinking critically and developing the knowledge to solve problems. 

When using a video, consider the tips below to ensure that the course activity is as engaging to students as possible.

3 Tools for Creating Online Course Activities

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Image: WikiMedia Commons

Oftentimes, teachers who develop courses online,
find it difficult to gauge WHAT and HOW MANY activities
they should include in their courses.

Many college-level teachers have no formal training in education or background in teaching. For instance, many adjunct teachers come from professional careers after many years and then start teaching online. It is assumed that they would automatically know how to design a course, develop course activities and deliver them in an engaging way to students. So, many teachers are left to figure out how to do this all on their own.

5 Trends in Education to Keep Watching in 2015

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Happy New Year, Everyone !!!  With my first post of the new year, I feel compelled to share with you the trends in education that I am watching.

One of the reasons I started this blog was to write about the trends in education that I was seeing that have affected me as a teacher, content developer and educational consultant.

So to that end, here are five trends that I list below in any order of importance. My trends list is by far not meant to be a complete list but just a “tip of the iceberg” of the trends that I’m keeping my eye on as they affect my teaching and practice.

Please note that the impact of the trends I list are based on my own observations, opinions and experiences.