There are a variety of ways that online learning can be structured. Possibilities range from simply using online media/tools to assist in the classroom teaching of a lesson/unit about a particular subject, to simple hands-on activities designed to develop particular skills such as online searching and research, to entire courses that involve little, if any, interaction between teacher and student.
This page has a collection of the online learning units and activities that I have created thus far. Perhaps something here will prove useful to you.
Online Media/Tool
Our Solar System - A common and popular subject in many elementary classrooms. See the planets, learn interesting facts about them, and visit fascinating websites that have 'out-of-this-world' pictures and activities. One of the things I was trying to accomplish with this was to create something that could be used in a classroom that has access to a computerized whiteboard. (If you haven't seen one, it is basically a very large wall-mounted touchscreen that hooks up to a computer. Whatever the computer is displaying shows up (including Internet browsing), and students can touch the board in lieu of using a mouse to select things, enter text, etc. The planet names page in particular was designed with this in mind.
Subject Sampler
Magnetic Medley - This is a Subject Sampler that introduces the learner to the topic of magnetics. There are a number of different sites to explore and learning exercises to complete during or after the exploration. Explore all of the links or just those of interest to you, but either way, do have fun exploring the fascinating world of magnetics!
Webquests
In case you are new to Webquests and would like some background to better understand them, or perhaps create your own, a brief explanation of them follows. Links to the Webquests that I created follow the explanation.
A Webquest is simply an online instructional unit. As with traditional 'offline' research or project-based learning (PBL) activities, a Webquest is designed to facilitate the development of a number of different skills.
Successful projects have certain characteristics in common. Clear and specific tasks that are designed to achieve clear and specific outcomes or goals are paramount. In the educational setting these should relate to curricular objectives to provide a rationale for the project. There should also be a timeline complete with start and end dates to guide the velocity of the work, although this may be managed by the parent/teacher in an educational setting. And finally, some way to measure the final product results and effort applied are necessary both in the education and work environments.
The standard Webquest model/template is designed to accommodate these elements and embodies the essence of project-based learning. The introduction and conclusion are related to the rationale of the project. Together they set the stage, pose the problem or project, and wrap-up the learning that has taken place.
The task and process sections of a Webquest guide both the activity on the project and how it will be conducted, which gives direction to the parties involved. Resources that are necessary to successfully complete the project are included here. And as with my volcano quest, data collection instruments can be created and applied that assist in both the project completion and evaluation.
And finally, the evaluation section provides the means to measure what was accomplished and relates the degree of achievement to the major objectives of the project. It should relate closely to the specific tasks students complete and should be as objective as possible so that successful achievement can be predetermined and planned for by the students.
Whether online, offline, or online collaborating with others (telecommunities/telecollaborating), PBL is realistic learning because much of what causes us to learn and grow comes in the form of encountered problems that require resolution. There is not always a facilitator to guide us, and we are free to resolve the problem in the most appropriate and comfortable way for us. This is efficient and motivational, whether in life or an educational setting.
Other aspects of PBL, which add motivation and realism to learning, include collaboration with peers (if a partnership or team approach is used), pursuing related subtopics during the research, and reporting or sharing a project summary or results upon conclusion.
One of the sites I reviewed suggested allowing students to be involved in setting evaluation criteria as a way to help them learn goal setting. This is another way that PBL can be interdisciplinary and integrate other curricular objectives.
One thing to keep in mind with all of this is that, unless it is specifically related to the project objective, the focus of a Webquest should be on learners using Internet resources rather than learners learning to use the technology. However, it should be obvious that technology skills are a prerequisite to a successful online project experience and an initial Webquest experience could appropriately be designed to measure and/or develop these skills if necessary.
Since my personal setting involves home schooling, the typical Webquest format of groups of students working together and assuming different roles as they conduct their research, develop their positions, and make their presentation was inadequate for my needs. And although working together is an important life and work skill to develop, equally so is the ability to conduct similar activities individually. Fortunately, Webquests can also be constructed so as not to exclude the individual learner and these Webquests were my attempt to put groups of one or two back into the game.
Volcano Webquest - This Webquest approaches the topic of volcanos from the perspective of an elementary student who has become concerned from all of the television reports of the recent activity of a local volcano in our area. The tasks are commensurate with this age level and provide a basic foundation for understanding volcanos.
Wasp Webquest - Similarly, here is an elementary Webquest based on a real-life situation that made learning about a particular type of bee important, and then getting this information to someone in authority who could then take action to correct a potentially dangerous circumstance.
Parts of Speech Webquest - I wanted to take a shot at a Webquest that wasn't directly related to science to discover the different thought that had to go into creating something appropriate for a subject not traditionally taught by computer. In this unit, you will acquire training and develop skills in managing the parts of speech necessary to good grammar and efficient communications. Even if you've had some training before, we all need 'tuned up' once in awhile; earn your certificate today!
Online Course
Digitizing Video - My first try at creating a 'standard' online course, this covers some of the basics with regard to digital video. Of particular concern are the considerations related to taking analog (VHS) tape and creating pleasing digital output from it, be it sharing through DVD or online means. Got some old videos lying around? Or perhaps even DV tapes/cards that you aren't sure where to start with? Let's get started now creating your big debut!
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My latest endeavor involves training in Microsoft PowerPoint 2003. To view a short slide show that details some of the important points covered in the Digitizing Video course, please click the disc image to the left. Press your browser's 'Back' button at any time to return to this page. |