Web-Based Courses

Web-Based Courses: An Overview

BYTE ConferenceFebruary 26, 2010

Howard Griffith

Donald Girouard

Distance Learning Delivery Models

• Face-to-face (f2f) teaching• ITV or Web Conferencing 2-way video and

audio• Web-based Course Option• Independent Study Option• Best models tend to use blended approaches

F2F ISOWBC

more student - student and student - teacher interaction less

ITV

Scenarios?

Group share and talk

• Who needs Web-Based Courses? Why?

• How (where) might they be used to support student learning?

Reasons for taking courses online?

• credits not available in small schools with low enrollments– important for rural and northern schools

• student interest in alternative methods for earning credits• teacher availability, especially in specialized areas such as

Mathematics, Science, and French• resolve timetabling issues• implementation of new curricula/courses

– Grade 11 Physical Education Health Education• preparing students for lifelong learning• other reasons?

Who takes advantage of WBCs?

• students use WBC to fill in some gaps – enrichment or remedial– technology skills

• distance learners in small schools where sharing is available

• teachers combine some elements of WBC in a f2f class

• teachers use WBC as resource

Stats• 47 web-based courses• ~ 1400 course sections• ~ 4000 students for last year• ~ 1000 teachers• stats change everyday

WBC Development and Instructional Design

• designed to be teacher-mediated • delivered asynchronously using a learning

management system (LMS) called Blackboard (previously known as WebCT)

• modular concept• self-contained

– content, learning experiences, learning activities, assessments, communication, resources, etc., in the LMS.

• congruence with Manitoba’s curricular outcomes

Supporting Student Engagement in WBCs

• Discussions and review of existing WBCs• Addition of new design concepts and tools:

– more interactivity/inquiry– alternative solutions and explanations– more student helps– reflective journaling– teacher guided class discussions– more web resources

What does a WBC look like?

Modular Course Design

Discussions, Blogs, Journals

Communication: Discussions

Communication: Email

Communication: Calendar• public or private entries

Assessment: Tests

• multiple choice• matching• short answer• paragraph

Assignments

Assignment Dropbox

How To Preview a WBC?public access available

http://webct.merlin.mb.ca

login as demo (username)demo (password)

The previews are limited versions of web-courses

What is the WBCRS?

• Web Based Course Request System

• teachers can get full access to any WBC

http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

Support & Training for WBCs

• scheduled live workshops• scheduled webinars• webinar on demand, one-on-one support• Online Community

– tutorials, tips & tricks– guides, documents, web links– sharing alternative links for dead sites– recorded webinars and other resources

• email• phone call

What’s on the horizon?

• New courses in development– http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html

• New version of Blackboard– more teacher tools to support student learning.

• Wimba collaboration tools• built-in tools for communication/collaboration

– easier to navigate interface

Questions??

More Information

• Web-Based Course Availability:– www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/coursesfordelivery.html

• Web-Based Course Development:– www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html

Accessing a WBC as a teacher:– http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

• Other resources can be found at:– in Blackboard: WBC Teacher’s Online Community– http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/WBC_Resources

• Contact us:– howard.griffith@gov.mb.ca– donald.girouard@gov.mb.ca

Thank You!