This week I got to kick the tires and test drive the Centra platform used to deliver e-Learning courses for Contact North. The good folks at Contact North organized two "hands on" training sessions for five wannabe e-learning college professors.
First Session - Tuesday, December 16 (2:00pm - 4:00pm)
Theme: Participant Interface
We were located in various colleges around northern Ontario and after completing system and audio checks on our computers, Celinie Russell, our course instructor welcomed us to e-Learning. She expertly and patiently introduced us to the basic features of Centra as viewed from a learner's perspective.
Thanks to Celinie, in no time at all we were showing off...confidently clicking away on various communication icons/buttons to ask or respond to questions...to applaud each other...to laugh at a joke or comment. The test drive was going well.
Next, Celinie showed us how to use text chat and how to interact with whiteboards. We also got to explore Web Safari...which allows an instructor to take learners on a guided tour of web sites. Celinie accessed a web page and one lucky participant got an opportunity to actually operate on a frog....unfortunately it croaked.
Too soon our first class ended.
Second Session - Wednesday, December 17 (7:00pm - 9:00pm)
Theme - Leader Interface
After exchanging greetings, our fearless leader Celinie put us right to work exploring Centra from an instructor's perspective. We practiced using Centra's administrative features. We learned how to import applications and URLs. We developed and tested a survey. We created and managed agendas. We learned how to use the Breakout Rooms to facilitate group discussions.
The session was very lively and informative...but not overwhelming thanks to Celine's continual encouragement and the user friendly features of Centra.
Before we were dismissed, we were encouraged to visit Contact North's Playground where we could continue to refine our newly acquired skills.
Since our training sessions were recorded, we were also encouraged to replay them in the event we required a refresher.
Our test drive was over..no one crashed and the only casualty was a virtual frog.
Thanks Celinie and an icon applause to my fellow classmates.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I want to be unique...just like everyone else
When I first started this blog documenting my experiences with e-Learning I gave careful thought to a catchy and hopefully unique title. Eventually, I settled on the title "e-Learning - Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks"
As an experiment I wanted to see if I could search for my blog on the web. I googled my blog title and was amazed to find over 9,000 blogs with a similar title...so much for originality. However, I did find it curious that so many other "old dogs" share a similar interest in e-Learning.
As an experiment I wanted to see if I could search for my blog on the web. I googled my blog title and was amazed to find over 9,000 blogs with a similar title...so much for originality. However, I did find it curious that so many other "old dogs" share a similar interest in e-Learning.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
CONTACT NORTH and e-LEARNING
For readers who may not be familiar with e-LEARNING or Contact North, below is a primer...information is copied from the Contact North web site:
http://www.contactnorth.ca/
Persons interested in discovering more about the potential and endless possibilities of Contact North would be wise to contact:
Debra Betty, Vice President, Contact North
debra@contactnorth.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simply, ‘e-learning’ at Contact North means that instructors now have the opportunity to bring the powerful features of the Internet into your distance education classroom.
Through the use of an online and real-time collaborative software program available in each of our Access Centres, instructors can bring Internet content, presentations, files and other multi-media applications in your classroom, can use whiteboard features to illustrate concepts, speak directly with students and allow students to speak with one another and in groups.
Is e-learning at Contact North like online courses that I can take on my own at home?
Your e-learning course at Contact North integrates our e-CLASSES interactive online tool to enhance the overall quality of your learning experience. You will participate in your course from one of our Access Centres or location specified by the educational institution, you will have live interaction with your instructor and other students, and you will be supported by on-site staff.
How do I access the e-CLASSES platform?
You will access the e-CLASSES using the e-learning workstations at one of our Access Centre or at another location specified by the educational institution offering the course.
Do I have to take any special training to use the e-CLASSES platform?
The e-CLASSES platform is very user friendly. An online tutorial, quick reference information and online guide as well as staff support at each of our Access Centres are available to assist all students.
Is there a cost to use the e-CLASSES platform?
There is no cost for the use of the e-CLASSES platform. Students will pay the tuition fees that they would normally pay to the educational institution offering the course.
How can I access the e-CLASSES platform?
Students access the e-CLASSES platform using one of the e-learning workstations at one of our Access Centres or other location identified by the educational institution offering the course.
Why do I want to use the e-CLASSES platform?
The e-CLASSES platform will provide you with a quality learning experience by allowing your instructor to bring content from the Internet into your distance education class, allow you to interact with other students and the instructor, allow your instructor to use whiteboards, and other interactive features.
http://www.contactnorth.ca/
Persons interested in discovering more about the potential and endless possibilities of Contact North would be wise to contact:
Debra Betty, Vice President, Contact North
debra@contactnorth.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simply, ‘e-learning’ at Contact North means that instructors now have the opportunity to bring the powerful features of the Internet into your distance education classroom.
Through the use of an online and real-time collaborative software program available in each of our Access Centres, instructors can bring Internet content, presentations, files and other multi-media applications in your classroom, can use whiteboard features to illustrate concepts, speak directly with students and allow students to speak with one another and in groups.
Is e-learning at Contact North like online courses that I can take on my own at home?
Your e-learning course at Contact North integrates our e-CLASSES interactive online tool to enhance the overall quality of your learning experience. You will participate in your course from one of our Access Centres or location specified by the educational institution, you will have live interaction with your instructor and other students, and you will be supported by on-site staff.
How do I access the e-CLASSES platform?
You will access the e-CLASSES using the e-learning workstations at one of our Access Centre or at another location specified by the educational institution offering the course.
Do I have to take any special training to use the e-CLASSES platform?
The e-CLASSES platform is very user friendly. An online tutorial, quick reference information and online guide as well as staff support at each of our Access Centres are available to assist all students.
Is there a cost to use the e-CLASSES platform?
There is no cost for the use of the e-CLASSES platform. Students will pay the tuition fees that they would normally pay to the educational institution offering the course.
How can I access the e-CLASSES platform?
Students access the e-CLASSES platform using one of the e-learning workstations at one of our Access Centres or other location identified by the educational institution offering the course.
Why do I want to use the e-CLASSES platform?
The e-CLASSES platform will provide you with a quality learning experience by allowing your instructor to bring content from the Internet into your distance education class, allow you to interact with other students and the instructor, allow your instructor to use whiteboards, and other interactive features.
WELCOME TO MY FIRST BLOG:
If ignorance is bliss..then I was a very happy person until I met Stephen Murgatroyd.
On Nov 27 and 28, 2008 I was most fortunate to attend a Ten-Step Rapid Course Development Workshop for e-LEARNING facilitated by Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd (biography to follow). The workshop was organized by my new best friend Debra Betty, Vice-President, Contact North. Dr. Linda Sorensen, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Algoma University also assisted in the workshop by relating first-hand experiences using e-LEARNING.
The workshop was for the benefit of program faculty in the School of Recreation and Leisure Services, Canadore College, North Bay, Ontario (www.canadorec.on.ca).
SOME BACKGROUND:
Over the past two-years enrollment in Canadore's School of Recreation and Leisure Services has increased substantially. Currently, there are over 200 full-time students taking courses in six different diploma and certificate programs offered by the School. In addition, the School is struggling to respond to requests from individuals seeking to take courses by distance learning. This semester, faculty are using e-mail and the college's online computer program TLM (The Learning Manager) to deliver course content to 9 part-time students and 8 practitioners.
CANADORE...WE HAVE A PROBLEM:
As a consequence of Canadore College's School of Recreation and Leisure Services rapidly increasing enrolment, there follows an associated problem (or as Dr. Murgatroyd would correct me...not a problem; rather, a challenge): how best to deliver learning to in-class students and to others who wish to learn from a distance? Thankfully, the cavalry arrived in the form of Debra Betty of Contact North, Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd, and Dr. Linda Sorensen.
On Nov 27 and 28 we gathered in a computer classroom and waited for the click of a mouse to begin our quest to learn from these experts about the wonders of e-LEARNING. In retrospect, it was fitting that this workshop was the first training event ever held in our School's new building which will not officially open until January 2009. Canadore employees in attendance were: Program Dean David Himmelman, Professor/Program Coordinator David de Jourdan, Professor Bill Ramore, Professor Brian Bennison, and Professor Larry Sheppard.
DR. STEPHEN MURGATROYD:
I was simply blown away by Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd's presentation and his wonderful insights into this whole business of education. In fact, the idea to start this Blog was inspired by Dr. Murgatroyd. For the information of readers who may not know Stephen Murgatroyd, I have taken liberty to copy a bit of his biography, as posted on his excellent blog (it is well worth a visit).
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/10b/8b
Dr. Murgatroyd worked with major corporations (Oracle, EMC, Citibank, Heinz, ASDA (Wal-Mart's UK division), Barclays Visa and many others) on major change and development programs.
He designed learning systems, such as Athabasca University's online MBA program and a creative work-based learning Masters degree as a partnership between Lifeskills International and Middlesex University.
He has written over 20 books, numerous articles and written, presented and directed television and radio.
WORKSHOP ACTIVITY:
Stephen spoke of learning communities. He spoke of the need for teachers to get caught up to their tech savvy students. He spoke of the merits of using the Internet (blogs, learning assets, etc) as valuable tools to enhance learning. He spoke of the necessity for teachers to actively engage students in the learning process. He spoke of the advantages of students being involved in developing curriculum and contributing to new learning/teaching resources. He spoke of how outcomes can be effectively and efficiently delivered by using a technique he referred to as story boarding.
He quickly dispelled the myth that e-LEARNING was not as effective as traditional approaches employed in classroom-based learning. On the contrary, he provided convincing evidence that e-LEARNING offers unlimited opportunities to stimulate and advance learning and is the best way to deliver curriculum in a timely, relevant, and student centered manner.
During the Winter 2009 academic semester I will be delivering a course (Rec 130: Legislation and Risk Management) to over 100 college recreation students. As a pilot project, approximately 50 students will be in-class and 50 students will be learning from a distance through Contact North (an organization I will offer some information about in my next posting). Throughout this course I will be embracing the e-LEARNING principles and strategies espoused by Stephen Murgatroyd.
My plan for this BLOG is to post regular updates on my preparations and experiences delivering a course using e-LEARNING. In addition, I am going to extend an invitation to my students to offer their feedback and will post any comments they provide. Likewise, you are welcome to join us for the journey and your comments and contributions will be appreciated.
I look forward to sharing my adventure.
If ignorance is bliss..then I was a very happy person until I met Stephen Murgatroyd.
On Nov 27 and 28, 2008 I was most fortunate to attend a Ten-Step Rapid Course Development Workshop for e-LEARNING facilitated by Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd (biography to follow). The workshop was organized by my new best friend Debra Betty, Vice-President, Contact North. Dr. Linda Sorensen, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Algoma University also assisted in the workshop by relating first-hand experiences using e-LEARNING.
The workshop was for the benefit of program faculty in the School of Recreation and Leisure Services, Canadore College, North Bay, Ontario (www.canadorec.on.ca).
SOME BACKGROUND:
Over the past two-years enrollment in Canadore's School of Recreation and Leisure Services has increased substantially. Currently, there are over 200 full-time students taking courses in six different diploma and certificate programs offered by the School. In addition, the School is struggling to respond to requests from individuals seeking to take courses by distance learning. This semester, faculty are using e-mail and the college's online computer program TLM (The Learning Manager) to deliver course content to 9 part-time students and 8 practitioners.
CANADORE...WE HAVE A PROBLEM:
As a consequence of Canadore College's School of Recreation and Leisure Services rapidly increasing enrolment, there follows an associated problem (or as Dr. Murgatroyd would correct me...not a problem; rather, a challenge): how best to deliver learning to in-class students and to others who wish to learn from a distance? Thankfully, the cavalry arrived in the form of Debra Betty of Contact North, Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd, and Dr. Linda Sorensen.
On Nov 27 and 28 we gathered in a computer classroom and waited for the click of a mouse to begin our quest to learn from these experts about the wonders of e-LEARNING. In retrospect, it was fitting that this workshop was the first training event ever held in our School's new building which will not officially open until January 2009. Canadore employees in attendance were: Program Dean David Himmelman, Professor/Program Coordinator David de Jourdan, Professor Bill Ramore, Professor Brian Bennison, and Professor Larry Sheppard.
DR. STEPHEN MURGATROYD:
I was simply blown away by Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd's presentation and his wonderful insights into this whole business of education. In fact, the idea to start this Blog was inspired by Dr. Murgatroyd. For the information of readers who may not know Stephen Murgatroyd, I have taken liberty to copy a bit of his biography, as posted on his excellent blog (it is well worth a visit).
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/10b/8b
Dr. Murgatroyd worked with major corporations (Oracle, EMC, Citibank, Heinz, ASDA (Wal-Mart's UK division), Barclays Visa and many others) on major change and development programs.
He designed learning systems, such as Athabasca University's online MBA program and a creative work-based learning Masters degree as a partnership between Lifeskills International and Middlesex University.
He has written over 20 books, numerous articles and written, presented and directed television and radio.
WORKSHOP ACTIVITY:
Stephen spoke of learning communities. He spoke of the need for teachers to get caught up to their tech savvy students. He spoke of the merits of using the Internet (blogs, learning assets, etc) as valuable tools to enhance learning. He spoke of the necessity for teachers to actively engage students in the learning process. He spoke of the advantages of students being involved in developing curriculum and contributing to new learning/teaching resources. He spoke of how outcomes can be effectively and efficiently delivered by using a technique he referred to as story boarding.
He quickly dispelled the myth that e-LEARNING was not as effective as traditional approaches employed in classroom-based learning. On the contrary, he provided convincing evidence that e-LEARNING offers unlimited opportunities to stimulate and advance learning and is the best way to deliver curriculum in a timely, relevant, and student centered manner.
During the Winter 2009 academic semester I will be delivering a course (Rec 130: Legislation and Risk Management) to over 100 college recreation students. As a pilot project, approximately 50 students will be in-class and 50 students will be learning from a distance through Contact North (an organization I will offer some information about in my next posting). Throughout this course I will be embracing the e-LEARNING principles and strategies espoused by Stephen Murgatroyd.
My plan for this BLOG is to post regular updates on my preparations and experiences delivering a course using e-LEARNING. In addition, I am going to extend an invitation to my students to offer their feedback and will post any comments they provide. Likewise, you are welcome to join us for the journey and your comments and contributions will be appreciated.
I look forward to sharing my adventure.
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