Applying good teaching practices of Chickering, Gamson and Ehrmann, as outlined in Making the Move to eLearning by Kehmann and Chamberlin (2009), the selection of tools within my community matrix display below contains a blend of Web 2.0 tools to support interaction among learner-learner, learner-content, and learner-facilitator.
Tools have been carefully selected to include a variety of communication forums supporting contact between students and faculty, developing reciprocity and cooperation among students, offering authentic activities for high engagement and active learning, and incorporating authentic feedback to students from the course facilitators as well as from peers and groups. Progression of Refinement:
My initial list included basic tools such as Wikis, Blogs, and Google Docs. I retained Google Docs as its use in collaboration is functional and widely known and used. I removed Wikis and Blogs and began to re-evaluate tools I would like to incorporate into my further eLearning classroom. These tools may seem unique, such as truth mapping and viaologues, but I believe they are hidden gems that are underutilized in building engagement and interaction within a distant environment. |
Reflection: The eLearning environment has traditionally been characterized as isolating with no person-to-person interaction except through copious discussion posts, which may or may not lead to a community of connected learners. As noted by Chamberlin & Lehmann (2009), "critics of online learning often state that a lack of human contact is a major drawback of online learning when compared to traditional face-to-face classrooms" (p. 113). I am elated to participate in a shift to bring eLearning members together in a variety of forums where social, pragmatic and positive argumentative dialogue can develop and flourish while nurturing the cognitive growth of the participants. The careful synthesis of video, voice, and text can co-exist to continue to create dynamic dialogue among peers and by using web 2.0 tools within an eLearning environment the physical barriers that previously impeded extended geographical communications and learning are now diminished and can connect people worldwide.
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Citation:
Lehmann, K. and Chamberline, L. (2009). Making the move to elearning: Putting your course online. Rowman ans LIttlefield Education.
Lehmann, K. and Chamberline, L. (2009). Making the move to elearning: Putting your course online. Rowman ans LIttlefield Education.