Monday, 30 May 2011

E-Learning Facilitation! LAST call for Summer 2011



EDUC 761 Creating Collaborative Communities in E-Learning
June 20 - August 12, 2011
 Register Now!

This course provides you with real hands on experience. You'll learn how to create a sense of online community as you facilitate discussions with your peers. This is an opportunity to practice online teaching skills in a caring, personalized and supportive environment.

Course activities include hands-on practice using asynchronous communication technologies. You will actively: facilitate, explore questioning skills, conflict resolution, netiquette, and collaborative learning through problem solving scenarios, simulations, and online discussions. You will investigate time management strategies and pitfalls to avoid when designing and facilitating online class activities and explore various assessment tools to analyze and evaluate student participation in online discussions.

Don't miss this chance! Register Today!

EDUC 761 Creating Collaborative Communities in E-Learning
3 graduate credits
Totally online - no travel to campus required

No extra fees or surcharges for out of state or international participants.

This course is part of the University of Wisconsin-Stout Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching.

Instructors: Dr. Kay Lehmann and Lisa Chamberlin

Collaborative Communities, Personal Learning Communities, and Twitter

The instructors for the UW-Stout E-Learning course Collaborative Communities (register now for Summer 2011 Session: June 20 - August 12, 2011)
, Kay Lehmann and Lisa Chamberlin have been experimenting with uses of social media to support their eLearning certificate program course. Kay and Lisa are the authors of Making the Move to eLearning: Putting Your Course Online. They use Twitter daily. 


According to Kay, "Twitter provides us with links to good resources and articles as well as letting us network with some of the finest minds in the fields of education and online learning. We want our students to join us on Twitter. We advise them they can be lurkers, meaning they don't have to post messages, known as tweeting. We think everyone needs a Professional Learning Network (PLN) and your PLN is incomplete if you are not using Twitter."

How do you join Kay and Lisa on Twitter? Go to http://twitter.com and click "Sign up now" button. Complete the form and create your Twitter account. Fill in your profile page. Go to settings and complete the "Account tab", "Notices" tab, and "Picture" tab (you can use an avatar of your choosing but most Twitter users do have some sort of visual identifier). These are the most vital.

Use the Find People button and search for chamberln_Instr and kay_lehmann and start following both of them. Lisa also posts as chambo_online

Messages for the students in the Collaborative Communities course will include #ccstout in the tweet. This phrase preceded by a # is known as a hashtag, it is a way to mark tweets and make them searchable. There are other hashtags which may be of interest to people in the eLearning certificate program including #eLearning or #mLearning.




Kay Lehmann, EdD
lehmannk@uwstout.edu
C 509-520-1046 (Pacific time zone)
Online Professional Development
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Stout
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/
Co-Author of Making the Move to eLearning: Putting Your Course Online

Instructional Design for eLearning by Susan Manning: LAST CALL Summer 2011

EDUC 763 Instructional Design for E-Learning   (Register Now)





If you’re trying to figure out what to do with your online course, either because it seems lifeless or you wonder what could be different, Instructional Design for eLearning may be for you.

Or, if you want to find out more about what goes into designing and delivering quality education online, this is definitely for you! We cover the theoretical and the practical sides of organizing learning events for online delivery.

Delivered in a highly engaging and interactive asynchronous format, the class examines topics such as theories of learning, linking objectives to assessment and methods for presenting content. The course addresses issues for K12, higher education and corporate trainers. 



For more information, visit https://webmail.uwstout.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/instructonline/index.html


This class is taught by Dr. Susan Manning, e-learning professional and co-host of the great podcast series, The Greenroom at Learning Times.org. Susan has also recently authored (along with Keven Johnson) the new book Online Education for Dummies.

Assessment of Student Learning in the Online Classroom (E-Learning Assessment)

Last Call Summer 2011!








EDUC 762 960 June 13 – August 5, 2011 Instructor: Datta Kaur Khalsa
EDUC 762 961 June 20 – August 12, 2011 Instructor: Jim Erbe 

Assessment in E-Learning (Click Here for Course Description.)

EDUC 762 3 semester hours graduate credit

As an educator you already understand the importance of efficient and accurate assessment. Have you realized how powerful assessment is in the online learning environment?

Assessment has the capability to drive interactions and engagement.
Assessment can minimize plagiarism
Assessment can strengthen higher-level learning.
Assessment can streamline blended learning environments.

Learn what is needed to become an excellent online teacher and course designer while developing your electronic record keeping systems and methods for evaluating discussion postings and group projects. Become familiar with assessment tools that could make or break your online course.


Modules


Module 1: Why is Assessment Important?
Module 2: Emerging Practices of Online Assessment
Module 3: Perfect E-Storm
Module 4: Variety of Assessment Tools
Module 5: Taxonomy of Assessment
Module 6: Cybercoaching - an Emerging Model
Module 7: Summative Assessment
Module 8: Discourse Analysis

Register Now!

Some might think of online assessment as a dry topic. You'll find this class anything but dry! This is a great course! Take the leap and join now.



You won't be disappointed! 


~ Dennis


Dennis O'Connor
Program Advisor
E-Learning and Online Teaching
Graduate Certificate
UW-Stout

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Social Network Challenge: Best Uses of Facebook in the Classroom

This week's blog examines best practices for using Facebook to enhance collaboration and communication within the school or campus community.  Explore how to safely and creatively use Facebook to foster student engagement through authentic learning projects.


Kelly Walsh provides examples of how Facebook enhances K-16 classrooms through discussion groups,  communication with parents, and effective learning communities.

The Edudemic staff describes how Facebook’s Questions feature utilizes collective knowledge to help students answer questions via polling, tagging and posting photos.

Michael Preston succinctly reviews the pros and cons of using Facebook and suggests how to decide if Facebook is the best tool to use for student engagement in your classroom.

Brian Jenkins describes ten top Facebook apps which create higher student achievement including: Quizlet, Study Groups, and To Do List.
Mr. Kaiser explains how he uses web-based apps like Fakebook for effective class projects which stimulate critical thinking and creativity.

Vicki Davis explains why it’s important to be savvy about Facebook’s friend feature, and why you shouldn’t “friend” your students.
Mick Charney describes how Facebook made possible a collaborative learning community at Kansas State University.

Lisa Nielsen describes how a first grade teacher uses Facebook to celebrate student success, share announcements, and publish student writing.

Tech Tip: Creating an Interactive ePortfolio With Google Sites

Google Sites is a free tool which many schools are successfully using for student ePortfolios. Here is an excellent tutorial to get you started:
http://sites.google.com/site/eportfolioapps/online-tutorials-sites/sites-how-to



Last Call for Summer Online Classes. 
Don't delay. Sign up Soon!

Sign up today to reserve a spot! 



EDUC 760 E-Learning for Educators 3 graduate credits (New Section Added!)
This is the introductory course in the E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate, is an approved elective in the online Master of Science in Education degree program, and is open as an individual course to students seeking professional development.



EDUC 762 Assessment in E-Learning 3 graduate credits (Two start dates!)
  • EDUC 762 960 June 13 – August 5, 2011 Instructor: Datta Kaur Khalsa
  • EDUC 762 961 June 20 – August 12, 2011 Instructor: Jim Erbe

EDUC 763 Instructional Design for E-Learning 3 graduate credits (Almost Full!)


EDUC 761 Creating Collaborative Communities in E-Learning 3 graduate credits (Almost Full!)
NOTE: This is the fourth in the series of five required courses for individuals pursuing the Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching and is also available as a single course for experienced trainers and online educators seeking professional development.



EDUC 764 E-Learning Practicum 3 graduate credits (Almost Full!)
(Prerequisite: Successful completion with a 3.0 gpa in EDUC 760, 761, 762, 763 and Consent of Instructor)  Successful completion of the practicum earns the E-Learning Certificate. This course culminates your preparation as an e-learning professional. You will finalize your professional e-portfolio as a career building demonstration of your online teaching skills and abilities. During the practicum you will teach with a cooperating online instructor gaining valuable real world online teaching experience. (A customized internship is available for those already teaching online.)  Frequently Asked Questions about the Practicum






School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Phone: (715) 232-2253

Archives - back issues in case you missed the most recent newsletter.
Posted by K. Franker on 4/20/2011
(reposted with permission of UW-Stout)

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Grade Comments and Formative Evaluation

One of the absolute essentials in any Learning Management System is a way to provide private comments to students via the gradebook.

I created this how-to video tutorial as a guide for participants in our E-Learning Practicum Class.   All who earn the E-Learning Graduate Certificate experience an internship during which they teach online in one of our graduate courses.

This video explains just how and why I use grade comments In D2L as a primary way of connecting with students.  http://www.screenr.com/embed/wff



Please share this post with those who might be interested?

Click through the share on Facebook and Twitter links found on the right hand panel? This helps us spread the word about our program!

Let me ask you all: How often do you receive personalized formative evaluation from your online teachers?

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Summer 2011 Online: E-Learning For Educators

ONLINE COURSE EDUC 760 E-Learning for Educators 3 semester hours graduate credit


Explore online and blended applications for e-learning using an open source learning management system, Moodle, and the D2L learning management system. You will have the opportunity to create your course content with Moodle, an inexpensive way for educators to create an effective online course.

The course provides a strong foundation in e-learning and online teaching theory and technology.  Emphasis is on developing a community of practice founded on critical reflection, personal interaction, and rich experiences with web 2.0 tools. E-Learning for Educators is is the recommended first course in the E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate program.

Activities include hands-on experience with Web 2.0 tools such as social bookmarking, blogs, podcasts,  personalized search tools, surveys, quizzes, and discussion systems.

This course prepares learners to lead and manage instructional challenges in a variety of online settings in educational institutions, corporations, the military, health care and government agencies. The emphasis is on what you can use right now in your teaching or training.

This course introduces educators to the hands on realities of teaching online. Using Moodle and D2L teach and learn as both a student and an instructor.  Discover e-learning best practices and create discussion forums, online surveys, quizzes and e-portfolios.

EDUC 760 E-Learning for Educators 3 graduate credits
This is the introductory course in the E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate, is an approved elective in the online Master of Science in Education degree program, and is open as an individual course to students seeking professional development.


Sections are nearly full: 

Dates
Choose one section:
EDUC 760 960 June 13 - August 5, 2011 Instructor: Becky Mather
EDUC 760 961 June 13 - August 5, 2011 Instructor: Sara Turansky
EDUC 760 962 June 13 - August 5, 2011 Instructor: Dennis O'Connor

Register Now Course Info

 ------------------------------
 
What students are saying:

"It was a great first experience with online learning!  I would, I have, and I will, recommend the course to colleagues with whom I work, and I would consider another online course without hesitation. I couldn't have asked for a better experience!" 
~ Middle School Librarian, Los Angeles, California

"I enjoyed the instructor(s) and their focus on organization and professionalism."
~ Instructor at Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

"Prior to beginning the class, one of my most strongly held notions was that the interaction and level of engagement in an online course environment could not come close to the experience one has in a face to face class. While I don't know that I am ready to fully embrace the concept that one should be able to earn a high school diploma or a Bachelor's degree completely online,  I certainly believe there is tremendous value, rigor, and powerful sense of community that can be developed in a thoughtfully constructed course with a skilled teacher shepherding the process. "
~ Middle School Librarian, Los Angeles, California
Girls Generation - Korean