Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning)

146 Pages·2004·1.11 MB·English

by  Rita-Marie Conrad

Engaging the Online Learner DC Engaging the
OO
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AR
Engaging the Online Learner includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement— LA
DD
that helps learners become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of S Online Learner
O
a course.The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experi- N
enced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online
learning.Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to:
•Convert classroom activities to an online environment
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•Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities J 1
OS n E
•Phase-in activities that promote engagement among online learners S g M Activities and
E U
•Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities Y-B ag OL
A V
•Create authentic activities and implement games and simulations SS in NG Resources
Engaging the Online Learner is the first title in the Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching G g I
U N
and Learning.This series helps higher education professionals improve the practice of I R
online teaching and learning by providing concise,practical resources focused on particular DE th EA for Creative
S L
areas or issues they might confront in this new learning environment. T e D
O N
“The Phases of Engagement framework provides a road map for creating community at ON O G A Instruction
each phase of an online course.This book is an invaluable guide to innovative practices L N
for online learning.” IN n HI
E l C
—Judith V.BOETTCHER,instructional futurist,Designing for Learning T i A
E n E
A T
“Engagement is the heart of online learning. The authors have developed an encyclopedia C e E
H N
of tried-and-true learner engagement activities that are authentic and ready to use.” IN L LI
—Donald P.ELY,professor emeritus,Instructional Design,Development and G e N
A O
Evaluation,Syracuse University N a O
D r T

THE AUTHORS L n S
E E
A e D
Rita-Marie CONRAD has been teaching,designing,and consulting about online courses R I
N r U
for the past decade.She has taught online courses for Florida State University,Capella I G
N
University,and Nova Southeastern University as well as an online course on designing G SS
online instruction for the Learning Resources Network (LERN). V A
O B
L Y-
J.Ana DONALDSON is assistant professor of Educational Technology at the University U E
M S
of Northern Iowa.Donaldson is a published author,keynote speaker,international presenter, E S
and for many years has conducted workshops on integrating technology into engaged 1 JO
learning environments.
Cover design by Bruce Lundquist
EDUCATION/TECHNOLOGY
www.josseybass.com ISBN 978-0-7879-6667-6
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Rita-Marie CONRAD • J. Ana DONALDSON
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JOSSEY-BASS GUIDES
TO ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING
Engaging the
Online Learner
Activities and Resources
for Creative Instruction
Rita-Marie Conrad
J. Ana Donaldson
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Copyright © 2004 by John Wiley & Sons,Inc.All rights reserved.
Published by Jossey-Bass
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ISBN 0-7879-6667-3
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
FIRSTEDITION
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
Contents
Preface ix
The Authors xiii
PART ONE Constructing Activities to Engage Online Learners 1
1
Engaged Learning in an Online Environment 3
Engaged Learning in the Online Environment 6
Guiding Learners to Engage Online 9
Appropriate Activities for Each Phase 12
Summary 13
2
Designing Online Engagement 16
Adapting Classroom-Based Activities 17
Meeting the Needs ofOnline Learners 19
Choosing an Effective Communication Tool 20
Summary 23
3
Measuring Online Engaged Learning 24
Analyzing the Quality ofCritical Thinking 25
v
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Discussion Analysis Tools 26
Rubrics 26
Team Assessments 27
Reflective Self-Assessments 31
Summary 31
PART TWO Activities to Engage Online Learners 35
4
Learning to Use Online Tools 37
Building Students’Skills in Using the Necessary Tools 37
Skill-Building Activities to Try 39
Skills Survey 40
Drag and Drop 41
Library Search 42
I Can Find That 43
Scavenger Hunt 44
Syllabus Quiz 45
5
Online Icebreakers 46
Characteristics ofan Effective Icebreaker 47
Icebreakers to Try 48
Bingo 49
Classmate Quiz 50
Lineup 51
Lost in Space 52
Name That Movie 53
One Word 54
Portrait 55
Room with a View 56
Snowball 57
Things 57
Truths and Lies 58
vi
Contents
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What Kind ofAnimal? 58
Why Are We Together? 59
6
Peer Partnership and Team Activities 60
Moving Dyads to Teams 61
Peer Partnership and Team Activities to Try 63
Contest ofthe Week 64
Dyad Debate 65
Group Contract 66
How’s My Driving? 67
Medieval Shield 69
Progressive Project 70
Structured Chat 71
Structured Discussion 72
7
Reflective Activities 73
Characteristics ofan Effective Reflective Activity 74
Reflective Activities to Try 75
Aha! 76
Bumper Sticker 77
Critical Insight 78
I Didn’t Know That 79
IRAs 80
More Words to Lead By 81
Picture 82
Summary Words 83
8
Authentic Activities 84
Characteristics ofan Effective Authentic Activity 85
Authentic Activities to Try 86
Case Study 87
Celebrity Chat 88
vii
Contents
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Cross-Region Discussion 89
Team Problem Solving 90
Pyramid 91
Social Responsibility 92
9
Games and Simulations 93
Characteristics ofan Effective Game or Simulation 94
Games and Simulations to Try 95
Group Problem-Based Learning 96
Jilligan’s Island 101
Spreadsheets 103
Virtual Field Trips 104
WebQuest 105
10
Learner-Led Activities 106
Activities Led by Individuals Versus Teams 106
Conveying Outcomes 107
Choosing the Type ofActivity 107
Adequate Orientation and Planning Time 107
What Do Learners Think About Learner-Led Activities? 109
Examples ofLearner-Led Activities 110
Example 1 111
Example 2 112
Example 3 114
Example 4 118
References 121
Index 125
viii
Contents