Lessons Learned from Semiotics

2011 ◽  
pp. 352-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Gannon Cook
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Appreciative Inquiry ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Course Completion ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Study Support

The primary purpose of this study is to see if graphic enhancements and navigation could enhance learning and reduce cognitive load to make it easier for at-risk, lower socio-economic, and ethnic self-identity groups of students to have a positive experience in online courses and increase the likelihood they will succeed in online degree programs. Using metaphors, signage, such as parietal art, and icons to provide congruency in the design and navigation of these programs could help students break down inhibitions and mediate new content and technology experiences with their existing knowledge. The study uses appreciative inquiry and development design methodologies to examine whether embedded semiotics and carefully designed metaphors could help students in the online courses feel more comfortable and increase the likelihood of their course completion. The findings of the study support the use of icons, metaphors and other forms of semiotics to transfer and mediate prior knowledge with new content knowledge, particularly in elearning.

Designing Online Courses as a Team

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
M'hammed Abdous
Keyword(s):  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Institutional Experience

Unlike the traditional “lone ranger” method for online course design—a method that hinges on individual faculty efforts, expertise, and knowledge—a team-based approach (TBA) harnesses the collective intelligence of several experts to design effective online learning experiences. Using learning design (LD) as a conceptual framework, this article describes the experience of a public institution in using a team-based approach to produce a large number of online courses for degree programs. After establishing the relevance of a team-based approach, the author discusses the premises that underpin the model, in terms of process, faculty relationship, and quality assurance. Building on these premises, a cyclical backward design process is described which is intended to (1) clarify course-learning outcomes and align course content, (2) determine acceptable evidence of students' learning, and (3) plan the learning experience. The article is concluded with a few insights and lessons learned from the institutional experience.

Designing Online Courses as a Team

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-132
Author(s):  
M'hammed Abdous
Keyword(s):  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Backward Design ◽  
Institutional Experience

Unlike the traditional “lone ranger” method for online course design—a method that hinges on individual faculty efforts, expertise, and knowledge—a team-based approach (TBA) harnesses the collective intelligence of several experts to design effective online learning experiences. Using learning design (LD) as a conceptual framework, this article describes the experience of a public institution in using a team-based approach to produce a large number of online courses for degree programs. After establishing the relevance of a team-based approach, the author discusses the premises that underpin the model, in terms of process, faculty relationship, and quality assurance. Building on these premises, a cyclical backward design process is described which is intended to (1) clarify course-learning outcomes and align course content, (2) determine acceptable evidence of students' learning, and (3) plan the learning experience. The article is concluded with a few insights and lessons learned from the institutional experience.

cMOOCs and Global Learning: An Authentic Alternative

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Yeager ◽  
Betty Hurley-Dasgupta ◽  
Catherine A. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Massive Open Online Courses ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Press Coverage ◽  
Open Educational Resource ◽  
Educational Resource ◽  
Global Learning ◽  
Massive Open Online ◽  
Definition Of

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) continue to attract press coverage as they change almost daily in their format, number of registrations and potential for credentialing. An enticing aspect of the MOOC is its global reach. In this paper, we will focus on a type of MOOC called a cMOOC, because it is based on the theory of connectivism and fits the definition of an Open Educational Resource (OER) identified for this special edition of JALN. We begin with a definition of the cMOOC and a discussion of the connectivism on which it is based. Definitions and a research review are followed with a description of two MOOCs offered by two of the authors. Research on one of these MOOCs completed by a third author is presented as well. Student comments that demonstrate the intercultural connections are shared. We end with reflections, lessons learned and recommendations.

Are your students ready for anatomy and physiology? Developing tools to identify students at risk for failure

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Gultice ◽  
Ann Witham ◽  
Robert Kallmeyer
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Student Success ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Academic Preparation ◽  
Students At Risk ◽  
Science Courses ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Study Support

High failure rates in introductory college science courses, including anatomy and physiology, are common at institutions across the country, and determining the specific factors that contribute to this problem is challenging. To identify students at risk for failure in introductory physiology courses at our open-enrollment institution, an online pilot survey was administered to 200 biology students. The survey results revealed several predictive factors related to academic preparation and prompted a comprehensive analysis of college records of >2,000 biology students over a 5-yr period. Using these historical data, a model that was 91% successful in predicting student success in these courses was developed. The results of the present study support the use of surveys and similar models to identify at-risk students and to provide guidance in the development of evidence-based advising programs and pedagogies. This comprehensive approach may be a tangible step in improving student success for students from a wide variety of backgrounds in anatomy and physiology courses.

scholarly journals Professional Master's degree in Nursing: knowledge production and challenges

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denize Bouttelet Munari ◽  
Cristina Maria Garcia de Lima Parada ◽  
Francine de Lima Gelbcke ◽  
Zenith Rosa Silvino ◽  
Luana Cássia Miranda Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Study ◽  
Master's Degree ◽  
Course Completion ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Nursing Knowledge ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Master’S Degree

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the production of knowledge resulting from the professional master's degree programs in Nursing and to reflect about their perspectives for the area.METHOD: descriptive and analytical study. Data collected from the dissertations of three educational institutions that graduated students in programs of professional master's degree in Nursing between 2006 and 2012 were included.RESULTS: most of the 127 course completion studies analyzed were developed within hospital contexts; there was a focus on the organizational and healthcare areas, in the research fields care process and management, and predominance of qualitative studies. There are various products resulting from the course completion studies: evaluation of services/healthcare programs and development of processes, care or educational protocols.CONCLUSION: the programs of professional master's degree in Nursing, which are undergoing a consolidation stage, have recent production under development and there is a gap in the creation of hard technologies and innovation. They are essential for the development of innovative professional practices that articulate the healthcare and educational areas.

scholarly journals Creating Interactive and Engaging Online AT Degree Programs: Lessons Learned

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anya Evmenova ◽  
Yoosun Chung ◽  
Emily Fallings ◽  
Cindy George ◽  
Marci Kinas Jerome ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Degree Programs

scholarly journals Experience with Online Delivery of an Engineering Technical Elective Course

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Wallace ◽  
Harpreet Dhariwal
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
University Of Toronto ◽  
Physical Presence ◽  
Elective Course ◽  
On Line ◽  
The University ◽  
First Time

MIE 515, Alternative Energy Systems, an engineering technical elective course open to senior undergraduates and graduate students, was delivered as an on line course for Fall 2011. This is the first time an undergraduate engineering course at the University of Toronto has been offered online. The course is also one of five pilot online courses across the University. The move online is being accomplished in two steps. For Fall 2011, a small lecture section of 25 students was used as a setting for video capture and the remaining 110 students accessed the course lectures online asynchronously. A live tutorial was offered once a week. All students were physically present for the midterm examination and the final examination. For Fall 2012, the course will be delivered entirely online, with the exception of student physical presence for the two examinations. Pedagogical and technical lessons learned during this transition year will be presented. The benefits and drawbacks of online delivery will be discussed from the perspective gained this year and compared with our expectations. Student feedback will also be presented and discussed.

High Tech, High Touch, High Context

2014 ◽  
pp. 30-48
Author(s):  
Matthew Eichler ◽  
Carrie J. Boden-McGill ◽  
Tennille Lasker-Scott
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Graduate Degree ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Graduate Degree Programs ◽  
The Social

In this chapter, the authors explore the challenge of maintaining a “high touch” learning environment in online and hybrid adult graduate degree programs. The literature suggests that although online degree programs are popular, the retention rate in online classes is low, and online courses may not meet the social needs of adult learners. Few interventions thus far have been successful. The authors used learning pods, small, geographically-oriented teams of students working on individual learning projects as self-directed communities of scholars, as an intervention. Student perceptions of learning pods are explored in this chapter, and suggestions for practice based on student feedback are offered.

Education Balanced Scorecard for Online Courses

2012 ◽  
pp. 441-462
Author(s):  
Kenneth David Strang
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Management Science ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Program Success ◽  
Course Grades ◽  
Science Philosophy

This case presents a best-practice in higher education, whereby a balanced scorecard approach was used to assess the effectiveness of a distance education (online) course in an accredited business degree program at an Australian public university. The assessment rubric was created by applying the concept of the balanced scorecard (from management science) to measure student performance, satisfaction, as well as content and delivery effectiveness. Performance was derived from the course grades while a validated survey instrument was utilized to gather estimates of all other factors from the students. One of the key lessons-learned in the case was that rather than reinvent the wheel, it was better to reuse accreditation surveys designed for the classroom to assess online courses and leverage the management science philosophy of measuring more than just performance to evaluate program success. Similar scorecard concepts have already been applied in U.S. universities, thus their differences with this case are also discussed.

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