Online Course Peer Review http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview Promoting Online Course Quality at Lake Superior College Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:41:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Creativity with Online Discussions http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/10/03/creativity-with-online-discussions/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/10/03/creativity-with-online-discussions/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:41:21 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=84 Some of the information presented at Thursday’s discussion presentation:

Adding creativity to online discussions:

  • Write great discussion questions  http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no2/akin.htm 
  • Invite a guest speaker or “expert” into your online discussion
  • Have different online classes interact with each other - perhaps have one group of students teach another group a new concept
  • Incorporate3 - 5 minute YouTube videos or podcasts
  • Utilize a free online survey tool to compile and display student opinions/data (I like www.surveygizmo.com)
  • Incorporate virtual field trips/tours — there are thousands available online!
]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/10/03/creativity-with-online-discussions/feed/ Online discussions that really work! http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/26/online-discussions-that-really-work/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/26/online-discussions-that-really-work/#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:27:22 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=77 Getting Creative with Online Discussions is the theme of the semester’s first “Learn from Each Other” session.  All LSC faculty members are invited to attend Thursday, October 2 from 12:00 to 1:00 in room E2402. 

Most of us use online discussions as a way to get our students interacting and learning from each other.  They can be a powerful learning tool!  Unfortunately, students can easily get frustrated with digging through large amounts of postings, content that is off-topic, and unclear requirements.  Come learn how to insert creativity into online discussions and improve them so they truly enhance the learning experience!

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/26/online-discussions-that-really-work/feed/ Resources at our fingertips http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/19/helpful-resources-everywhere/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/19/helpful-resources-everywhere/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:23:59 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=76 While browsing through the MERLOT website (a good resource for online learning materials) I  happened upon the  Journal of Online Learning and Teaching.  This online journal is published quarterly and its objectives, as found on the website, are to:

  • Enable faculty to use technology effectively in teaching and learning by learning from a community of researchers and scholars;
  • Enable academic programs to design and deploy academic technology to optimize teaching and learning;
  • Build a community around the research and scholarly use of multimedia educational resources.

I found all kinds of interesting articles including one on utilizing blogs in the online classroom:  Defining Tools for a New Learning Space: Writing and Reading Class Blogs by Sarah Hurlburt.   I intend to go back at some point to read about creativity in online classrooms, blogging across disciplines, and virtual labs.  Check it out!

 

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/19/helpful-resources-everywhere/feed/ “In progress” course? http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/12/in-progress-course/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/12/in-progress-course/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:12:51 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=75 When an online course goes through the peer review process and does not meet minimum rubric standards (minimum standards = a score of 60 out of 70 possible points AND yes scores on all 3-point essential standards) the course is considered “in progress”.  The instructor of the “in progress” course is strongly encouraged to make recommended changes in order to bring the overall score up. 

Starting this semester, peer review team leaders will send out reminders to instructors with courses still in the “in progress” mode — encouraging them to make the suggested changes and to contact the team leader upon completion.  Once the team leader verifies the changes, he/she will revise the review results and the instructor receives a new score and written review.  It’s a win-win situation!

Curious about the entire review process?  Click the “Peer Review Process” tab on the left-hand side of this page.  Let me know if you have questions!

 

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/12/in-progress-course/feed/ Best practices in online learning http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/05/best-practices-in-online-learning/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/05/best-practices-in-online-learning/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:20:00 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=73 A couple of years ago, the LSC peer review team leaders had a brainstorm session and developed a list of online course best practices.  This list can be found in the upper left hand corner of this blog.  It’s good info!

While “surfing the web” (that sounds so outdated!), I recently found an excellent resource from Las Positas College in California:  http://lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/blackboard/best_practices/  Their “Best Practices in Designing Online Courses” document is similar to LSC’s online course peer review rubric.  It contains excellent information and examples of activities and design techniques.  Some of the most noteable from the site, in my opinion:

  • Written material should be divided into short, readable (”chunked”) sections with links to subsequent pages, if necessary.  PowerPoint presentations - with or without audio narration - should be chunked and 5-10 minutes in duration.  Podcast lectures should be chunked and the same length.
  • For those students who get excited about a topic and want to learn more on their own, provide links to websites that you think will be helpful.  Conversely, you can also provide links that will help remediate students who struggle with a topic.
  • Use surveys to gather feedback from your students at various times throughout the semester.  Use the feedback to improve activities, as needed.
]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/09/05/best-practices-in-online-learning/feed/ Getting off to a great start! http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/08/27/getting-off-to-a-great-start/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/08/27/getting-off-to-a-great-start/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:52:29 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/?p=72 The online course peer review process is entering its fourth year at LSC!  In that time, 48 different LSC online courses have been reviewed and 25 faculty members have volunteered as peer review team members.  Interest in this voluntary and confidential process continues to grow, especially as professional development plans are due and faculty evaluations are scheduled (a peer review looks great in a portfolio and the deans think highly of the process)!

Interested in learning more about peer review?  Considering having a review done, but not ready to jump in quite yet?  Let me know!  I’ve met with many faculty over the years who prefer to show me their course on an informal basis first.  No problem!

On a different note, here are links to important information that can easily be included in our online courses:

Online Learning Policies including plagiarism, student conduct, Learning Center, and netiquette information — https://www.lsc.edu/connect/index1.cfm (click “Faculty Support” and then “Online Learning Policies”)

2008-2009 LSC academic calendar — http://www.lsc.edu/calendars/Academic%20Calendar%20-%202008-2009.pdf

Have a great first week!

 

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/08/27/getting-off-to-a-great-start/feed/ Streaming video http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/05/01/streaming-video/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/05/01/streaming-video/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 01:42:58 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/05/01/streaming-video/ LSC Librarian, Connie Moeller, recently presented a session to faculty about using streaming video in online classes. She provided us with the following links to websites and film companies which provide free streaming video (these can be used right now free of charge in our online classes!):

Annenberg Mediahttp://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html (free but requires thatyou create a login)

History Channel Video Galleryhttp://www.history.com/media.do

PBS Frontlinehttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/view/

NOVA Online Videohttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/index.html

The LSC library is considering purchasing video streaming services from FMG On Demand.Check out their titles at:http://www.fmgondemand.com/PortalSearch.aspx If you see a title you like, let Connie Moeller know!

What does FMG On Demand look like from a library website:http://www.middlesexcc.edu/library/control.cfm/ID/2823

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/05/01/streaming-video/feed/ YouTube in the Classroom? http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/23/youtube-in-the-classroom/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/23/youtube-in-the-classroom/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:16:17 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/23/youtube-in-the-classroom/ Last week I attended the annual International Conference on College Teaching and Learning and came away with all kinds of good ideas to incorporate into my online classes. One that I especially liked was using 4-5 minute YouTube video clips to spur online discussions. Here’s an example from nutrition instructor Karen Schuster of Florida Community College of Jacksonville:

Chapter 9: Calcium and Healthy Bones

This week’s video segment is about healthy bones and specifically bone density and the metabolism of calcium in the body. It comes from a source that may be surprising to you: NASA! What was the most interesting or surprising information for you in this video? What questions were you left with after watching the video? Was this video helpful as a learning aid for you as a student in a college level introductory nutrition course - why or why not? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkdZb6K55-U

The presenter recommended giving students extra credit for finding factual videos on YouTube that might be used for future class activities. This serves as another learning opportunity for students while potentially saving the instructor time!

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/23/youtube-in-the-classroom/feed/ Next week’s Learn from Each Other sessions http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/16/next-weeks-learn-from-each-other-sessions/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/16/next-weeks-learn-from-each-other-sessions/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:32:09 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/16/next-weeks-learn-from-each-other-sessions/ The Online Peer Review Program and CTL are co-hosting the following “Learn from Each Other” sessions:

Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22 from 12:00 - 1:00 (same session–choose one to attend) Connie Moeller will present “Library Videos On Demand - Streaming Video”. The library is considering purchasing video titles in digital format so faculty can use their favorite videos in the online environment. Many vendors already provide free internet access to quality films and you can use them right now with your students. Come and learn what streaming video is all about. These sessions will be held in the library lab.

Wednesday, April 23 from 12:15 - 1:00 Jody Ondich will present “Quirky Assignments for Online Classes“. Examples of course activities include an ethics group project, Muslim interviews, story writing, and roleplaying. This session will be held in S2942.

Friday, April 25 from 2:00 - 3:00 Tina Johnson and Jeri Brysh will host a roundtable discussion titled, “The Challenges of Putting a Technical Program Online” with the subtopic/description “Online Teaching Tips for Managing Multiple Preps and Monitoring Program Students–and we have more questions than answers–looking for help!” This session will be held in S2986. Please comment if you have questions!

]]> http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/04/16/next-weeks-learn-from-each-other-sessions/feed/ An important tutorial — at our fingertips! http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/03/20/an-important-tutorial-at-our-fingertips/ http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/03/20/an-important-tutorial-at-our-fingertips/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:12:12 +0000 susan http://blog.lsc.edu/onlinepeerreview/2008/03/20/an-important-tutorial-at-our-fingertips/ Have you checked out the LSC Online Skills D2L”course” that all online faculty and students have access to? It’s an important resource that I’m guessing is underutilized. To find it, click on the little plus sign next to Ongoing at the bottom of your D2L entry page and then on Tutorials and Samples. This site is an excellent resource for brand new online students. I routinely refer students there to learn how to copy and paste, save a document in rich text format, use the dropbox, etc. The examples are clearly written, include great screenshots, and, in some cases, even animation. Check it out!

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