online classrooms made simple

Online ClassroomsA teaching strategy for the middle years

Characteristics

• Is not a replacement for the classroom!

• Is a space for teachers and students to collaborate though two way conversation to do things that are too hard to achieve otherwise.

• Developed to give additional formative assessment and student questions

• Is more informal than formal

Teaching strategy

• To be a facilitator, not a judge

• To be a critical, supportive friend

• To allow students to take ‘side trips’ into avenues that they are interested in and not to stick too rigidly to the curriculum

• To let students know where they are in their own learning

Stages of development

Arriving

Welcoming

Conversing

Making

Leaving

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Teacher’s Role

Student’s Role

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Students climb steps based on a set of tasks/problems

Too easy Too frustrating

Too boring Too distracting

Finding the learning balance

No technology Too much tech

The teacher’s role is todesign the learning steps

How can we tell?

Taking stock of tools and features you have.Teacher

Take time to set up your classroom

Important!

• Issue a naming convention - hide their true identity ie Firstname + First 2 letters of their surname + class JohnSmK7

• Issue any parent permission (tell the boss)

• Issue the class rules (behavior, respect)

• Speak online as you would offline.

Arrivinghttp://htav09.shoutem.com

Finding and setting up your online space.

http://htav09.shoutem.com

The Arrival Lesson

Create 6 dummy accounts using Gmail accounts for testing.

Use them in class for students who try to game the activity ... I don’t have email, I forgot my address, what’s my password.

Flight CheckIntroduce yourselfSay hello to a studentAdd a hyperlinkAdd a photoCheck someone’s linkPost a comment on someone’s photo.

Designers Tip:Our online classroom

Welcoming

http://htav09.shoutem.com

Welcoming Students

Great your class oftenShare something you are thinkingSay something you like about thier workAsk a question that makes them wonderExplain what to expect is going to happen

Our online classroom

Conversing

http://htav09.shoutem.com

Joining in conversations

Encourage open questions about anythingDon’t answer all the questionsPoint students to other studentsCorrect ‘group’ deviation and errorsDon’t ask all the questions

Our online classroom

Making

http://htav09.shoutem.com

Joining in conversations

Skills based activitiesIssues based activitiesPre-activity reflection (what will happen)During activity reflection (what are we doing)Post activity reflection (what did we do)

Our online classroom

Leaving

http://htav09.shoutem.com

Joining in conversations

Feedback to the groupWhat did you like about what you didWhat make you wonder/rethinkWhat would you do in the futureTalk about their achievements (group)

Our online classroom

Spaces to try

http://www.etherpad.com(small group sharing)

http://www.edmodo.com(class sharing)

http://groups.google.com(forum - but less features)

http://www.tinychat.com(web-cam and voice too)

http://www.meetsee.com(Virtual World)