Teaching with technology

Here are several links to sites that may add interactivity to your course or lesson.

• Make Worksheets.com
• Puzzle-Maker.com
• Crossword Puzzle Games.com 
• Teach-nology.com
• Education.jlab.org
• Wizgames.com
• Gamehippo.com
• The Teachers Corner.net
• Education-World.com

Training with student groups

Learning a new technology to deliver an online program is difficult if there are no students to work with.  For our transition to Blackboard 8, we have created five student accounts.  Each student has been added to your course. 

Task 1

Log in to Blackboard.  Navigate to the ”Teach” tab and select the Group Manager tool.  Follow the on screen instructions to place students in two groups.  Then assign each group to a discussion board topic.  Now answer the following questions:

What was the result? 

What made it easy?  What made it difficult? 

Did you create the discussion topic before or after the group was created?

Post your results and ask questions using the comment link below.

I bet this has happened to you, too. I sent my boss a really important document, and too late I discovered I had made a bunch of grammar mistakes.  Oops! egg on face, again! Why can’t I just write it right, the first time!

Maybe if I signed up for the Communicating for Results online course my boss and I would both be happier.

http://www.smu.ca/conted/whatsnew.html

 

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Winter 2009 Online Courses

All courses listed on this page are delivered totally online with some real time chats.  A totally online course requires the student to be conntected to the virtual learning space using a computer, the Internet, and Internet browser.  There are no face-to face lectures.  Students DO NOT come to a campus classroom or extension centre when taking a totally online course.

Below is a tentative online course listing winter 2009.  Course description and availability is found through course schedule search – https://husky31.smu.ca:9061/pls/NLIVE/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched

Arts

ENGL 1205.2 WW – Introduction to Literature

ENGL 1205.2 WX – Introduction to Literature

ENGL 3331.2 WW – History of Children’s Literature

RELS 3330.2 WW – Spirituality in the Workplace

 

Science

ASTR 1217.2 WW – Life in the Universe

ASTR 1217.2 WX – Life in the Universe

GEOL 1203.2 WW – Planet Earth: Atlantic Canada Perspective

PSYC 1240.2 WW – Human Development

PSYC 1260.2 WW – Personality: Normal & Abnormal

PSYC 3327.2 WW – Industrial/Organational Psychology

PSYC 3335.2 WW – Abnormal Psychology History and Theory

PSYC 3355.2 WW – Cognitive Pshychology

PSYC 4426.2 WW – Personnel Training & Development

 

Commerce

MGMT 2383.2 WW – Micro Organizational Behavior

MGMT 3385.2 WW – Human Resource Management

MGMT 4485.2 WW – Wage and Salary

Learning Styles

Each person learns differently.  Teachers try to add different learning excercises to each course in order to appeal to each type of learner.  Below is a link to a quick survey to identify how you like to learn.  Try it for fun!

http://www.ldpride.net/learning-style-test.html

Elearn challenge

If you are asking yourself “How well would online-learning courses fit my circumstances and lifestyle?”, complete this survey…it helped me to decide if elearning was the right choice for me, my lifestyle, and my learning style.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Print this page and circle an answer for each question and score as directed below. Answer honestly ­ no one will see this but you!

Students who tend to be most successful are those individuals, who are self-directed and self-motivated in their learning and study habits. 

(This questionnaire is adapted from “Are Telecourses for Me?” from PBS-Adult Learning Service, The Agenda, Spring 1994.)

---

1. My need to take this course now is:
   a. High ­ I need it immediately for a specific goal.
   b. Moderate ­ I could take it on campus later or substitute another course.
   c. Low ­ It could be postponed.
2. Feeling that I am part of a class is:
   a. Not particularly necessary to me.
   b. Somewhat important to me.
   c. Very important to me.
3. I would classify myself as someone who:
   a. Often gets things done ahead of time.
   b. Needs reminding to get things done on time.
   c. Puts things off until the last minute or doesn’t complete them.
4. Classroom discussion is:
   a. Rarely helpful to me.
   b. Sometimes helpful to me.
   c. Almost always helpful to me.
5. When an instructor hands out directions for an assignment, I prefer:
   a. Figuring out the instructions myself.
   b. Trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed.
   c. Having the instructions explained to me.
6. When I have to express my thoughts in writing:
   a. I enjoy expressing my ideas in writing.
   b. I need a lot of time to organize my thoughts.
   c. I try to avoid having to write long essays.
7. Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on a Online-learning course is:
   a. More than enough for an on-campus course.
   b. The same as for a class held on campus.
   c. Less than for a class held on campus.
8. Coming to campus on a regular schedule is:
   a. Extremely difficult for me ­ I have commitments (work, family or personal) during times when classes are offered.
   b. A little difficult, but I can rearrange my priorities to allow for regular attendance on campus.
   c. Easy for me.
9. As a reader, I would classify myself as:
   a. Good ­ I usually understand the text without help.
   b. Average ­ I sometimes need help to understand the text.
   c. Slower than average.
10. When I need help understanding the subject:
    a. I am comfortable approaching an instructor to ask for clarification.
    b. I am uncomfortable approaching an instructor, but do it anyway.
    c. I never approach an instructor to admit I don’t understand something.

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SCORING

Add 3 points for each “a” that you circled, 2 for each “b,” and 1 for each “c.” 

• If you scored 20 or more, a Online-learning course is a real possibility for you. 
• If you scored between 11 and 20, Online-learning courses may work for you, but you may need to make a few adjustments in your schedule and study habits to succeed. 
• If you scored 10 or less, Online learning currently may not be the best alternative for you; talk to your counselor.

What did I expect when taking a web course?

I was asked to…

• login to your course regularly
• participate in discussion boards and chat rooms
• prepare term papers and assignments offline, then upload them to the course
• read online content modules and textbook
• complete quizzes, self-tests and surveys online
• participate in work groups in chat rooms, discussion boards, Second Life
• read and report on required and reference readings
• watch videos or listen to audio clips online
• introduce yourself to classmates
• ask your instructor lots of questions
• have a point of view and support it 

 

…Just like a classroom course. 

 

So I had to get my life together by …

ORGANIZING MY TIME:

You need to make a regular commitment to logging on to your course every two to three days – every day is often the best. There’s a lot happening so be sure to check discussions as well as the e-mail and the virtual chat. Remember to pace yourself and your learning since it’s only too easy to let a week or two go by and then hastily scroll through the course notes. This may be tempting – but it’s not learning!

SCHEDULING MY ACTIVITIES:

Most of my class time was offline using WebCT.  While the remainder was using chat and Elluminate Live; everyone participated at the same time in real time. The professor guides your through this, so it is easy to learn the material and technology.   Other fun stuff in the courses were videos and audio recordings and webcasts.  This is less time sensitive, but really helped me get a grip on course materials. I was able to participate and contribute at times convenient for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2008 Online Courses

All courses listed on this page are delivered totally online with some real time chats.  A totally online course requires the student to be conntected to the virtual learning space using a computer, the Internet, and Internet browser.  There are no face-to face lectures.  Students DO NOT come to a campus classroom or extension centre when taking a totally online course.

Below is a tentative online course listing for 2008-2009.  Course description and details will be linked soon on the website – http://elearning.smu.ca.

Arts

ENGL 1205.1 (.2) WW – Introduction to Literature

ENGL 1205.1 (.2) WX – Introduction to Literature

ENGL 3331.1 (2) WW – History of Children’s Literature

HIST 1203.AXW (AYW) – The Twentieth Century  – FULL YEAR COURSE

HIST 2316.AXW (AYW) – Africa in the 19th Century  – FULL YEAR COURSE

HIST 2318.AXW (AYW) – The United States in the 20th Century   – FULL YEAR COURSE

HIST 2318.BXW (AYW) – The United States in the 20th Century  – FULL YEAR COURSE

RELS 2330.1 WW – Spirituality and Work

RELS 3330.2 WW – Spirituality in the Workplace

 

Science

ASTR 1217.1 (.2) WW – Life in the Universe

ASTR 1217.1 (.2) WX – Life in the Universe

CRIM 3315.X (.Y) WW – Organized Crime – Crosslisted with SOCI 3381

GEOL1202.1 WW – Earth History: Atlantic Canada Perspective

GEOL 1203.2 WW – Planet Earth: Atlantic Canada Perspective

PSYC 1240.1 (.2) WW – Human Development

PSYC 1260.1 (.2) WW – Personality: Normal & Abnormal

PSYC 1260.1 (.2) WX – Personality: Normal & Abnormal

PSYC 3327.1 (.2) WW – Industrial/Organational Psychology

PSYC 3335.1 (.2) WW – Abnormal Psychology History and Theory

PSYC 3355.1 (.2) WW – Cognitive Pshychology

PSYC 3360.1 (.2) WW – Applied Sports Psychology

PSYC 4426.1 (.2) WW – Personnel Training & Development

SOCI 3381.0 WW – Industrial/Organational Psychology – Crosslisted with CRIM 3315

 

Commerce

MGMT 3385.1 (.2) WW – Human Resource Management

MGMT 3385.1 (.2) WX – Human Resource Management

MGMT 4485.1 (.2) WW – Wage and Salary

 

Welcome to eLearning @ SMU

 

Where will you go…http://elearning.smu.ca/  

 

 

 

 

We are an modern urban university surrounded by maritime history.  Many programs are designed to reflect the needs of the people worldwide.  With a diverse international student population, classes are rich in collaboration and knowledge.  Students bring their experience and build networks of connections to improve the world around them and at home. 

 

E-Learning at Saint Mary’s University provides flexible learning opportunities for students.  Working students, students with families, and students with community responsibilities want the ability to study anywhere, anytime.  While expecting the same collaboration and engaging opportunities offered to campus students, students learning online work with interactive media to construct the meaning of the course materials.  Thus achieving a deeper understanding of the course.  Media, such as podcasts, video clips, slideshows, virtual classrooms, audio files, wikis, digital photography, blogs, and Second Life, engage students in learning concepts and theories, to share and debate the meanings and interpretations with classmates, and reflect and assess new perspectives and understanding. 

  

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Saint Mary’s University welcomes You!