1. Hybrid Online Collaborative Learning Environments Jennifer Courduff EDUC8841 Dr. Jana Willis

2. The need: sustained learning in university and K-12 educational settings Asynchronous online models offer no element of human contact and interaction F2F models are restricted by geography and time Lack of time during the day to collaborate Lack of access due to district firewalls, blocking of collaborative websites

3. The solution Development of distributed learning Combination of face-to-face and online Extends opportunities for student/faculty interaction Incorporates simulations and visualizations Incorporates collaborative learning http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers http://ateacherswrites.wordpress.com/about-this-blog/ Uses multiple technology resources as teaching and learning tools Accommodates multiple learning needs and styles

4. Benefits Exploration – access and explore information Experience – synchronous and asynchronous Engagement – enables creative approaches to learning Ease of use – content immediately available across platforms Empowerment – student drives the learning Effectiveness – personalized learning that enables high levels of interaction between faculty and student

5. Hybrid Learning Environments Everest Colleges and Universities: a student view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK1T4EYAMmQ The Adventure Channel: Hybrid Learning in Theory and Action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg4et4DtBfc The Future of Learning Management Systems http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsLgzllQ69I

6. Pedagogical Challenges Alignment with institution’s mission, vision, culture Appropriate and ethical use of information Information navigation – learning to filter huge amounts of information Balancing doing and knowing / playing and producing

7. Institutional benefits Meet needs for expanded access to underserved populations Meet needs to increase student population without new buildings Increases revenue Aids in institutional transformation to 21st century teaching and learning

9. Research: Current and emerging Geoff Sheehy: http://ateacherswrites.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/the-wiki-as-knowledge-repository-using-a-wiki-in-a-community-of-practice-to-strengthen-k-12-education/ The Horizon Report: http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/ Project Tomorrow: http://www.tomorrow.org/ Oblinger, D. G., Barone, C. A., & Hawkins, B. L. (2001). Distributed education and its challenges: An overview. American Council on Education and Educause.

10. Timeline

11. Timeline

12. Timeline

13. Timeline

14. Timeline

15. S-Curve

16. Pew Internet and American Life Project http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2005/The-Future-of-the-Internet/06-Looking-back-looking-forward/01-Where-has-the-internet-fallen-short-of-expectations.aspx?r=1#

17. Student Perspectives Blackboard K-12 Student Perspectives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHVs_C888Jc

18. Keys to change: The players Although, on the surface, distributed learning environments logically fall into a centralized model for diffusion, this is not necessarily the case. Centralized diffusion works from a top-down philosophy. Culturally, education is a decentralized system. Professors and teachers have great autonomy in instructional practice. They are, essentially, the sole controller of the learning environment. Decentralized diffusion is culturally and systemically a natural fit for education.

19. Focus: Laser or spotlight? Research suggests that change can be approached from two perspectives (Clancey, 1997; Wenger & Lave, 1991) Laser: focusing on working with the few who will influence the many. Spotlight: focusing on the many who will adopt eventually. The critical role of the change agent is to use a laser to get to the spotlight. To do this, the agent must: Be the Champion for change Develop the need for change Establish information exchange relationship

20. It’s all about people

21. Problems in Development Lack of e-pedagogy for hybrid learning environments Lack of resources including time, framework (samples), training Lack of creativity in fully using available / free technology resources such as text messaging and social networking sites Lack of support from IT departments and leadership My Rant on Blogs (Alvarez, personal communication, 2008).

22. Point: My Rant on Blogs Blogs have an inherent liability risk associated with them, especially the common and popular unmoderated, publicly viewable Blog. Potentially Blogs under the direct control or even the auspices of the district can expose us to legal action ranging from defamation to wrongful death. I realize that this is a somewhat cynical view, but the key question is: Are the benefits worth the risks? In the majority of cases I think the answer is no. This is not to say all forms of Blogging should be automatically disqualified – I think exceptions can and should be made for controlled (i.e. login required), moderated or highly supervised Blogs for district employee and training use. While recognizing the benefits that Blogs can provide our students, I believe the safety, privacy and liability risks outweigh these benefits. As an aside, I also have to express my concern that the constantly changing content of Blogs and Social Networking sites combined with their often opinionated, impassioned and “gossipy” nature creates a sense of immediacy that has a tendency to promote an unhealthy over-usage of the internet, especially among teens and pre-teens. (Alvarez, M., ESD Systems Analyst, Personal Communication, April 25, 2008).

23. CounterPoint from a student-champion for change Communication is inescapable: It is part of the fabric of human existence. It is irreversible: The reality is that once the spoken or written word is out there, it cannot be taken back. It is complicated: Within any given exchange resides a combination of perspectives, innuendo, auditory and visual cues that lead to clear understanding or disaster. It is contextual: It resides within relationships, environment, situation, emotion, and culture. Above all, emerging technology resources have created a world where communication is perpetual.

24. Learning in the 21st Century Must enable learning that is inescapable, irreversible, complicated, contextual, and perpetual. This should be the goal of universities This must not be considered a goal of change, but rather, of alignment to reality. Hybrid learning environments address the needs of 21st century learners on social, psychological, and technological levels. We can’t beat ‘em, so we better figure out how to join ‘em.

25. A Vision of Students Today If these walls could talk…..they would set us free…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

26. References Gladwell, M. (2002). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. New York: Little, Brown and Company. Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Smythe, T. (2009). The 2009 horizon report: K-12 edition. Austin: The New Media Consortium. Loucks-Horsley, S., & Bybee, R. W. (2000). Advancing technology education: The role of professional development. Technology Teacher , 60(2), 31-34. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Miller, L., Miller, R., & Dismukes, J. (2006). The critical role of information and information technology in future accelerated radical innovation. Information Knowledge Systems Management , 63-99. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier. Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (3rd ed.). New York: Free Press. Sheehy, G. (2008). Using a wiki in a community of practice to strengthen k-12 eduacation. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning , 52 (6) , 55-60. Springer Science & Business Media B.V.