scholarly journals A Place to Play: Teaching Communities How To Build Playgrounds

Author(s):  
Jonathan Racek ◽  
Kennon M. Smith

This case study focuses on the development of a train-the-trainer program which blends online resources and face-to-face instruction to assist people in leading communities which want to design and build safe and culturally-appropriate play areas. The case outlines the development of online resources and the iterations involved in developing and implementing strategies for face-to-face instruction.

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. Land ◽  
Michele M. Dornisch

Recent interest in computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) has prompted educators to incorporate communication tools into their courses. This article reports findings of students' use of two Web-based discussion forums across two semesters to supplement face-to- face instruction. By tracking the discussions, we discovered that when students initiated reflection and integration of perspectives, they did so through concessions and oppositions to the postings of their peers. Findings point to the importance of explicit scaffolding of conversations to encourage student sharing and evaluation of perspectives.


Author(s):  
A. Juan ◽  
J. Faulin ◽  
P. Fonseca ◽  
C. Steegmann ◽  
L. Pla ◽  
...  

This chapter presents a case study of online teaching in Statistics and Operations Research (OR) at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). UOC is a purely online university with headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, with students from many countries. As common to most math-related knowledge areas, teaching and learning Statistics and OR present difficult challenges in traditional higher education. These issues are exacerbated in online environments where face-to-face interactions between students and instructors as well as among students themselves are limited or non-existent. Despite these difficulties, as evidenced in the global growth of online course offerings, Web-based instruction offers comparative benefits to traditional face-to-face instruction. While there exists a plethora of literature covering experiences and best practices in traditional face-to-face instruction in mathematics, there is a lack of research describing long-term successful experiences in Statistics and OR online courses. Based on the authors’ experiences during the last decade, this chapter aims to share some insights on how to design and develop successful online courses in these knowledge areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Said Ibrahim ◽  
Fauziah Ismail

Blended learning has been adopted in many universities worldwide since it combines the advantages of both online learning and face to face instruction. In this paper, the researcher reports on the quantitative segment of a mixed-methods case study that was conducted in a public university in Malaysia with the aim of investigating the ESL instructors’ reflections on the implementation of blended learning in their English language classrooms. More specifically, the researcher was interested in identifying the factors that enhance the implementation of blended learning and the challenges that seem to hinder an effective blended learning environment.   The quantitative data of the study were collected by a survey questionnaire, which was distributed to at least 30 English language instructors. Nineteen instructors responded to the questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics via the statistical package for social science (SPSS). Findings show that while experience with technology and positive attitudes towards technology were identified as main factors enhancing the implementation of blended learning; workload and technological infrastructure were found to be the major challenges. The study signifies the need to address technology and workload related issues in order to effectively implement blended learning to promote ELT at tertiary level.  


10.28945/3511 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Gwen Nugent ◽  
Amy Kohmetscher ◽  
Deana M. Namuth-Covert ◽  
John Guretzky Guretzky ◽  
Patrick Murphy ◽  
...  

Learning objects originally developed for use in online learning environments can also be used to enhance face-to-face instruction. This study examined the learning impacts of online learning objects packaged into modules and used in different contexts for undergraduate education offered on campus at three institutions. A multi-case study approach was used, examining learning impacts across a variety of course subjects, course levels (introductory and advanced undergraduate), student levels (undergraduate and graduate), and instructional goals (i.e., replacement for lecture, remediation). A repeated measures design was used, with learning data collected prior to viewing the online module, after completion of the module, and at the end of the semester. The study provided a broad examination of ways that online modules are typically used in a college classroom, as well as measured learning effectiveness based on different instructional purpose and usage contexts. Results showed the effectiveness of the modules in serving as a substitute for classroom lecture, remediation of course prerequisite material, introduction to content with follow-up lab practice, and review for final exams. In each of these cases, the use of the modules resulted in significant learning increases, as well as retention of the learning until the end of the semester.


Author(s):  
Sejdi Sejdiu

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning vis-à-vis face-to-face instruction. In order to achieve this aim, three research questions including were raised. The study was conducted using the case study approach which was supported by the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. The study involved two teachers, one who taught the experimental group using blended learning, and another one who taught the control group using face-to-face instruction. The results showed that the blended learning instructor executed instruction better and used more effective methods of assessment than the face-to-face instruction teacher. This is supported by differences in students’ performances which show that the experimental group performed better by scoring higher means and recording lower variances.


10.28945/2638 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renay Buchanan ◽  
Robert McDougall

In this paper we describe the creative and innovative work that has emerged from the collaboration between content experts and creative designers. The project detailed here focuses on enhancing the current range of online learning opportunities for students studying a level one business mathematics course. We highlight some of the positives and negatives encountered when converting existing print-based materials to quality online educational tools and the mapping of face-to-face instruction into the electronic medium. A discussion of some of the major challenges encountered when creating resources such as these for distribution in an online environment is included. The conference presentation for this work will demonstrate the two primary online resources, worked examples with audio enhancement and simulations.


Author(s):  
Rana Tamim

The advent of technology has changed the landscape in post-secondary academic institutions and technology-enhanced university courses are becoming the norm. While Distance Education was previously restricted to traditional correspondence having limited options for student interaction with the instructor and no interaction with other learners, technology’s progression changed the context drastically. One of the emerging delivery modes is blended learning which combines the advantages of technology enhanced face-to-face instruction and electronic supported learning. The chapter offers a general overview of the influence of technological development on the post-secondary Distance Education sector and presents the advantages of the blended learning approach. Insights are offered from a UAE e-learning University case study while discussing implications for university professors and faculty members pertinent to instructional design and course delivery.


Author(s):  
Lisa Lobry de Bruyn

This chapter explores through a case study approach of a tertiary-level unit on Land Assessment for Sustainable Use, the connections between three key elements of learning—learning outcomes, learning design, and learning objects—in the context of problem based learning conducted in an online environment. At the “heart” of learning is the achievement of learning outcomes guided pedagogically by the learning design (“head”) with the support of well-designed, pedagogically-sound learning objects (“hands”). All the students participating in this case study were undertaking the unit as off-campus or “distance” students, either at under- or post-graduate level. This chapter defines the use of learning objects and learning design in a problem based learning context. Primary evidence is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the problem based learning design and integrated learning objects in facilitating learning outcomes when students communicated online on discussion boards within a course management system (WebCT) under two circumstances: one, as a collective group (2001-2003) before face-to-face instruction and practice in problem based learning; and two, in small groups (2004-2006) after receiving face-to-face instruction and practice in problem based learning. Improved student participation rates and quantity and quality of online student interactions on discussion boards seemed to be the consequence of early scaffolding of student learning through face-to-face instruction and practice in the problem-based learning activity, as well as working in small peer groups for subsequent discussion board activity. Overall there seemed to be improved student comprehension of and interaction with the learning design and learning objects in the small group experience of the problem based learning activity, which resulted in a more fulfilling and robust form of learning.


Author(s):  
Beverly B. Ray

This chapter explores a major theme emerging from a larger case study of higher education faculty's technology life histories. Specifically, key cases, late career faculty drawn from varied fields of academic inquiry, were queried about their changing role with technology across time and place. Using a process of interviews and content analysis, major themes were identified. One major theme, using online andragogy to inform face-to-face (F2F) teaching methods and strategies, emerged across the cases and is presented here using the results from one exemplar. Results provide a sense of how online pedagogies have reshaped expectations about teaching and are being used to inform effective F2F instruction, including specific examples of learner-centered instructional practices. Results reported in this chapter present a fuller picture of the context of changing expectations across time and place within which many faculty find themselves. Implications and limitations of the research approach are explored in the chapter as well.


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