Designer Education

Designer Education: Creating Customized Digital Learning Communities for K-20 Students & StaffCindy Pope, Ed. D. Candidatecpope@kingwoodschool.org

Instructor BiographyCynthia PopeGifted and Talented Program Coordinator/ Kingwood Township School DistrictInstructor/Rutgers Graduate School of Education-Teach Education and Computers coursework online

Bio / Expertise:Doctoral Candidate at Rutgers GSE and my dissertation area is K-12 online education. I have served as a District Technology Administrator, College Professional Development Administrator, District Technology Coach and ISTE Online Mentor.Extensive experience teaching adults online and Grade 3-6 students online. I developed a grant funded eAcademy pilot program which served the enrichment needs of district students.

Presentation ObjectivesHighlight importance of social learning within K-20 online learning environments. Determine what types of learning can be moved online to add value for students and staff. Establish which custom content, course features and technology tools to link for fulfillment of learning goals.Determine how to continuously evaluate success.Capitalize on the ease of creating online learning environments and digital entry points for educators to garner student satisfaction.

Why Incorporate Online Learning?Online learning has become easier to implement with new technologies.Online learning is one of the fastest growing segments in the educational arena. Blended learning has shown modest gains over face-to-face instruction alone (United States Dept. of Education, 2009)Online learning is expected to continue to grow linearly in the future, .the data suggest that in about six years 10 percent of all courses will be computer-based, and by 2019 about 50 percent of courses will be delivered on-line (Christiansen & Horn, 2008, p. 17). It provides a means for students to learn together ubiquitously while providing learner satisfaction.

Why Create Digital Learning Communities?The role of community as a means for social learning has been researched extensively in higher education (Hiltz, 1998; Rovai, 2002a; Sadera, Robertson, Song & Midon, 2009; Swan, 2005). Community has been presented as an answer in maintaining on-line student retention and the quality of learning experiences (Liu, Magjuka, Bonk & Lee, 2006; Rovai, 2002a; Sadera et al., 2009; Vesely, Bloom & Sherlock, 2007).

Features & Benefits of Digital Learning CommunitiesRovai (2002a) has identified connectedness as one of the essential elements of community. Connectedness is an important component in the classroom community because it fosters students spirit that they belong to a group and that they are not working in isolation (Rovai, 2002a). Connectedness also pertains to feelings of cohesion, trust and interdependence (Rovai, 2002b, p. 202). Rovai hypothesized that community is an important factor to measure because it is linked to a feeling of connectedness.Community reduces the likelihood of student isolation associated with high drop-out rates in higher education.Rovai associated community factors as a means to aid in student retention.

Community BenefitsLike Rovai, Lave and Wenger (1991) also found community to be integral to learning. Lave and Wengers (1991) work on building communities of practice (CoP) includes forming a community, situated around a content area or learning domain for the purpose of improving practice.

Taking Learning OnlineBailey & Card (2009) in their research of 15 college on-lineinstructors found pedagogical practices which have proved effectivein teaching web-based courses: fostering relationships, engagement, timeliness, communication, organization, technology, flexibility and high expectations.

What Learning Can You Take Online?Staff Professional Development and CollaborationStudent Blended Learning Supplements Brick and Mortar ClassesDigital Discourses and Study GroupsFully Online Distance Education and Virtual Classes

Educator Websites Can be Transformed into Digital Learning CommunitiesConnecting Students Connecting Colleagues Connecting Local and Global Communities with the inner workings of the Classroom! http://www.screenr.com/PfwWiki and Blog SitesWikispaces- http://www.wikispaces.com/content/wiki-tourPB WorksBloggerEdublog

Wiki Spaces Wiki

Project 21ProfessionalCollaboration Wiki Site

PB WORKSWiki

Blogger and TwitterStudent Blogs and Tweets

Professional BlogSite

Professional Network Tools

Social Network ToolsEdmoto Site

Knowledge Sharing Sites http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=11864#

Course Management Tools

Course Management Tools

Course Management ToolsVideo ConferencingSkypeAdobe ConnecteLuminateVokle

Video Conferencing

Video Conferencing

Video Conferencing

Video Conferencinghttp://www.vokle.com/events/35706-social-symposiumVideo Production and ConsumptionScreencast-o-maticScreenr AnimotoTeacher TubeYou TubeAnnenberg Foundation

Video

VideoWhat About The Next Generation of Learners?Since 2009, there have been an estimated 1,500,000 K-12 students taking on-line classes, representing a $507 million dollar market which continues to grow (International Association for K-12 On-line Learning, 2010). Currently, 48 states offer on-line learning options for children and 39 states offer public online schools (Watson, 2010).Increasingly more students will be coming into higher education with experiences and expectations of online learning.What Works in Digital Learning Design? Swans reported three design factors which contributed most to students overall satisfaction interaction with course content, interaction with course instructors, and interaction among course participants. Swan also found that on-line verbal immediacy of comments among course participants provided greatest student satisfaction.Students must be ready to assume a role as an active learner and the teacher a facilitator of instruction rather than a transmitter for all knowledge (Hiltz, 1998).The ADDIE Model of Instructional DesignMerrill's First Principles of Instructionhttp://www.instructionaldesigncentral.com/htm/IDC_instructionaldesignmodels.htm#addieThe ADDIE ModelAnalysis-Data gathering processDesign-Draft design plan , evaluate all elements and complete planCourse Instructional objectives determined and content plannedDevelopment-Instructional materials produced and pilot testedImplementation-Content delivered to the learner. Learners and facilitators evaluated.Evaluation-Constant evaluation of the instructional design and delivery. Course refined as needed.Instructional Systems Development (ISD) ISD is a process for curriculum development that support learning.

ISD is a process that facilitates quick, efficient and reproducible instructional design

ISD systems work in schools and training environments.

ISD is a systems approach that requires content and resource inputs, an ISD process and curriculum and materials outputs. ISD may be completed by singular, multiple or a team of designers.

ISD may use varied models but most include:

Analysis Design Development Implementation Evaluation (ADDIE)Key Systems DefinitionsAn instructional system is an organized and arranged collection of instructional resources that, when combined, achieve the goal of addressing and providing appropriate training solutions. A project is a single design effort using an instructional systems approach.

(Hodell, 2011, p.23)Analysis-Data Gathering Process1) What is the instructional problem and what is the instructional need?2) Who is the audience?3) Why is this course needed and how is it different than other courses?4) What content is needed to be included in the course?

5) What are the resources needed including technologies? 6) Develop a time plan and monetary budgetHodell, C. (2011) From the Ground Up, Chelsea, MI: Sheridan Books, Inc

Design- Draft design plan, evaluate all elements and complete plan

1) Define rationale, goals and objectives for the project

2) Determine the learner profile and prerequisites

3) Create course description

4) Determine evaluation strategy and deliverables

5) Evaluate all aspects of the design planDevelopment- Instructional materials produced and pilot tested1) Draft lesson plan(s)

2) Develop print and online materials

3) Pilot-test and evaluate materials in general and in relationship to the instructional plan

4) Modify as necessary based on pilot testing

5) Evaluate all components

Implementation- Content delivered to the learner. Learners and facilitators evaluated

Project is in the delivery stage

Evaluate learning based upon learner reaction, perception of learning and learning behaviors

Modify as necessary

Evaluate all implementation elements

Review all five parts of the ADDIE model

Make revisions as neededEvaluation- Constant evaluation of the instructional design and delivery.

Grant Funded Pilot Program Why Use Digital Media? New media allow for a degree of freedom and autonomy for youth that is less apparent in a classroom setting. Youth respect one anothers authority online, and they are often more motivated to learn from peers than from adults. Their efforts are also largely self-directed, and the outcome emerges through exploration, in contrast to classroom learning that is oriented toward set, predefined goals (Ito, 2008, p.2).

M. Ito, H. Horst, M. Bittanti, D. Boyd, (November, 2008) Living and Learning with NewMedia:Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project, The John D. and CatherineT. MacArthur Foundation Reports on Digital Media and Learning, Retrieve from http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.eduPersonal Learning Network Video

ResourcesBailey, C. & Card, K. (2009). Effective pedagogical practices for online teaching: Perception of experienced instructors. Internet and Higher Education, 12(3), 152-155. Hodell, C. (2011) From the Ground Up, Chelsea, MI: Sheridan Books, Inc.Hiltz, S. (1998) Collaborative learning in asynchronous learning networks: Building learning communities, Paper presented at WEB98 Conference, Orlando, Florida. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED427705.pdfInternational Association for K-12 On-line Learning. (2010). Fast facts on on-line learning, Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/press/nacol_fast_facts.pdfLave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning. Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.Liu, X., Magjuka, R., Bonk, C. & Lee, S. (2006). Does sense of community matter? An examination of participants perspectives in online courses. In T. Reeves & S. Yamashita (Eds.). Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2006. (pp. 2615-2621). Rovai, A. (2002a). Building sense of community at a distance. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Education. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/79/152 Rovai, A. P. (2002b). Development of an instrument to measure classroom community. Internet and Higher Education, 5(3), 197-211. Rovai, A. P. (2002c). Sense of community, perceived cognitive learning, and persistence in asynchronous learning networks. The Internet and Higher Education, 5(4), 319-332. Sadera, W., Robertson, J., Song, L. & Midon, N. (2009). The role of community in online learning success. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching. 5(2). Swan, K. (2002). Building learning communities in on-line courses: The importance of interaction.Education, Communication & Information, 2(1), Retrieved from http://coe.nevada.edu/larchambault/CIG%20790/Lit.%20Review/Building%20On- line%20Community.pdfU.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. (2009). Evaluation of evidence-based practices in on-line learning: A meta-analysis and review of on-line learning studies. Retrieved from ttp://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED505824 Vesely, P, Bloom, L. & Sherlock, J. (2007). Key elements of building online community: Comparing faculty and student perceptions, Retrieved from http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no3/vesely.htmWatson, J. (2010). Keeping pace with online learning, Retrieved from http://kpk12.com/states/

Ian Jukes Understanding the Digital Generation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecFizWZgIiAPersonal Learning Networks Personal Learning Network Video