1. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Building Classroom Community
Using Collaborative Online
Cour se Design
Presented at 28th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching &
Learning
www.onlineinteract.weebly.com
M. Aaron Bond
Daron Williams
Samantha J. Blevins Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

2. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Objectives
 Par ticipants will
 Describe research-based pedagogical practices for building
community in hybrid and online environments.
 Demonstrate knowledge and use of a variety of online
collaborative tools.
 Explain how to apply theory to distance learning classroom
practices.
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

3. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Introductions
 Name?
 Profession?
 Why this workshop?
 Favorite Food?
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

4. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Background
 Why community?
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

5. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Background
 For classes delivered electronically to be
wor thwhile instructor s must allow for the
interaction of three essential elements:
social presence, cognitive presence and
teacher presence (Garrison, Ander son, &
Archer, 2000)
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

6. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Background
 Learning experiences must utilize multiple
methods to deliver content to see
increased gains in student learning
(Moore, 2008)
 Designed interactions and collaboration
oppor tunities are essential for building an
online learning community (Pallof f and
Pratt, 1999).
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

7. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Our Research
 I won’t be able to connect with my
students.
It is possible for students to feel disconnected
from professors in either environment. The
online environment offers many more ways for
connections.
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

8. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
eLearning Interaction Model
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

9. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Brainstorm
 How can we “minimize” the medium when:
Creating Assignments?
Students are Confused?
Giving Feedback?
Fostering Interaction?
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

10. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Types of eLearning
 Synchronous
 IVC
 teleconferences
 Online classroom
 Asynchronous
 Websites
 Narrated lectures for download
 Blogs, Wikis, and podcasting
 Forums, email
 Hybrid Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

11. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Synchronous/Hybrid Tools
 Saba Centra
 Adobe Connect
 GoToMeeting
 Skype
 FaceTime
 Google+ Hangout
 Chat/IM
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

12. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Activity
 Develop an activity that enhances
community in your online cour se for each
of the following types of synchronous
tools.
Instant Messaging/Chat
Google Hangout/Skype/FaceTime
Online Classroom (Centra, Eluminate, Connect)
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

13. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Mid-Workshop Break
 Please be back in 10 Minutes
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

14. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Asynchronous Teaching: Student
Centered
 Learner takes charge of learning
 Active Learning
Questioning
Socratic Discussion/Debate
Group Activities
Problem Solving
Case Studies
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

15. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Asynchronous Assignments
 “Busy work” can seem boring and
pointless to both students and
instructors
 Make Topic Interesting and Relevant
 Application
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

16. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Asynchronous Facilitation
 Encourage Timely Participation
 Participate Too
Use Emoticons
Ask Follow up Questions
 Intervene as necessary
 Create Safe Environment
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

17. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Asynchronous Transfer
 Problem Solving
 Oral Communication
 Written Communication
 Teamwork
 Technical Knowledge
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

18. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Wikis
 3 Models
Cooperation
Collaboration and Cooperation
Collaboration, Cooperation, and Peer Assessment
 Wikispaces.com
 SciFi Wiki
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

19. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Blogs
 Journal or Reflective Exercise
 Oppor tunities for follow-up comments
 Can be private or open
 Examples
Wordpress.com
blogger.com
 U.S. Women’s Histor y II Blog (Virginia
Tech) Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

20. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
E-Por tfolios
 Digital containers
Displaying audio, graphics and textual artifacts
3 Purposes
Track learning
Assess learning
Demonstrate Professional Development
Reflection is the key
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

21. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Robust enough to serve as formative AND summative
assessment
Free ePortfolio tools
www.weebly.com
www.wix.com
google.sites.com
ePortfolios at Virginia Tech
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

22. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Discussion Boards
 Can Be The Heart of the Online Course
 Extend Course Content
 Open-ended Questions
 Must connect to course objectives.
 Can’t be “black and white” questions
 Reflective, creative, and critical
thinking
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

23. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Video-Based Learning
 Informative Sessions
 Interactive Lectures
 Group Work
 Assessment/Feedback
Announcements
 YouTube
 Examples
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

24. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Activity
 Develop an activity that enhances
community in your online cour se for each
of the following types of asynchronous
tools.
Wiki
Blog
Discussion Board/Forum
Video-Based Learning
ePortfolio
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

25. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Assessing Interaction/Community
 Do we need to grade par ticipation in
community?
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

26. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Activity
 Rubric Exercise
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

27. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Tips and Tricks
 Teach Ever ything the Fir st Week
 Small Cohor ts
 Fair Group Grading Practices
 Deliberate and Authentic Interactions
Rubrics
Informed Students
Employ Case Studies
 Know your students
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

28. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Tying it All Together
 No matter the tool you use, community is
built and maint ained by an involved
instructor.
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

29. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Tying it All Together
 Closing Activity
Share in your group one strategy that you will use when
you return home.
Share contact information.
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

30. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
Questions?
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning

31. Building classroom
community using
collaborative online
course design
References
 Garrison, D. R., Ander son, T., & Ar cher, W. (1999).
Critical Inquir y in a Text-Based Envir onment: Computer
Conferencing in Higher Education. The Internet and
Higher Education , 2 (2-3), 87 - 105. doi:DOI:
10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6
 Moore, J.C. (2008). A Synthesis of Sloan-C Ef fective
Pr actices. The Sloan Consor tium.
 Pallof f, R., & Pr att, K. (1999). Building Learning
Communities in Cyber space: Ef fective Str ategies for the
Online Classroom. San Fr ancisco: Jossey-Bass
Publisher s.
Institute for Distance
and Distributed
Learning