Exploring Online Tools For TeachingAlexandre EnkerliDepartment of Sociology and AnthropologyConcordia Universityhttp://enkerli.wordpress.com/http://www.slideshare.net/Enkerli

Introduction

• Overwhelmed?– Internet use by students– Internet use by colleagues

• Technology changes–Accompany teaching changes

• What can be done?–Moodle–Facebook–Other tools

Workshop

•Exploration of tools▫Inside classroom▫Outside classroom

•Presentation▫Experiences, learning contexts

•Round-table discussion▫Some issues with educational technology

Plan

•Self-introductions•Presentation on tools•Discuss other tools•Discussion on issues

Why Am I Here?

•Nobody special (PTF at Soc. and Anthro.)•“Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking

Learning Materials Online” (Spirit of Inquiry)

•Tech/Teach backgrounds•Use of Online Tools•Ph.D. seminar

Computer Technology

•“Wannabe geek” (online since 1993)•Hang out with “geeks”•Blogger since 2005

Teaching

•Ghost of Piaget•Diverse teaching experience (Qc, NB, IN,

MA)•Informal and formal teaching•Bridges between life and teaching•“Born to teach” Facebook group

Controversial Stance?

•“Learning happens despite teaching”•“Tools meant to be used”

▫Think about possibilities (“sales pitch”)▫Anti-deterministic

Participant Introductions

Presenting Tools

Tools to Cover

•Moodle•Facebook•RefWorks•Slideshare

MoodleA Free, Open Source Course Management System for Online Learning

Moodle

•Learning/Course Management System•Virtual Learning Environment•Also: Sakai, Oncourse, Blackboard,

WebCT•“Interactive course website.”

▫Provide content▫Do activities

Moodle Use

•Platform (modules, applications)•Resources (content) or Activities

(interaction)•Constructivist model•Teacher-student connection•Moodle community

Moodle Issues

•Outside authentication (ConU)•Training/documentation•Versions•Some confusing tools•Toward social networking

FacebookA social utility that connects you with the people around you

Facebook

•800 lbs. gorilla•Social phenomenon•“Where students are”•Social networking system•Platform with applications

Facebook and Learning

•Socialisation•Peer-learning•Informal learning•Discovery•Use as CMS

Facebook Issues

•Black hole? (“Addictive”)•Commercial site (advertising)•Scarcity of dedicated learning tools•Lack clear roles•“Where students are”

RefWorksYour online research management, writing and collaboration tool

RefWorks Use

•Online citation manager▫“Web-enabled EndNote”

•Concordia availability•Library catalogues (CLUES, MUSE...)•Google Scholar integration•Desktop integration (Microsoft Word)•RefShare

RefWorks Issues

•Few students really use•Cumbersome login (ConU)•Few databases (PubMed, OCLC Trial)•Missing some Endnote features?

▫Attachment▫Formatted list▫Handheld/PDA

SlideShareYouTube for PowerPoint

SlideShare Use

•Upload before class•Edit during class•Embed after class•Slidecast (with sound)

Slideshare Issues

•PowerPoint/PDF/OpenDocument•Changed fonts•Posting delays•Indirect editing (unlike Zoho show)•Cumbersome audio synchronisation

Other Tools

Other tools

•Google Docs▫Had to learn

•Skype•Screens•Email feedback

Blogspot

•Comments•Feedback on assignments•Comfortable expressing themselves•Interconnect after class (Moodle gone)•Semi-public•Successful

Research use of Web

•Online databases•Instead of entertainment•Patrick Labelle•Research librarians

Online Workshops•Dreamweaver•References from face-to-face workshop•Professional video•Program application•RefWorks workshop?•Download/show•IITS and CTLS•Refresher

Basecamp?

•Storage•Large•Closed/private

Discuss Issues

Discuss Issues (examples)

•Comfort•Luddites and fear of technology•Shelters or windmills•Teacher control•Online/offline learning•Informal/formal learning•Resources (time, money)

Attitudes•Technology proficiency•“Old-Fashioned”•Outside help•Want to learn•Experimentation•Concentrating on teaching vs. tools•Facebook too public•Textbook/didactic•Technology helps

Time-consumption

•To learn•To use•To control•Focus on teaching

Moodle frustration

•Abandon (lack of support)•Open Source (could be dealt with)•Assignment use•Came from Site Generator•Own way to use

Expectations

•Ex. PowerPoint•Not about entertainment•Pandering to expectations•Bells and whistles, “Wow factor”

▫Tangible product of/for teaching

Pleasing students

•Bother to show up?•Online evaluation

▫Teaching expectations Tenure system Part-time

•Learning styles▫Ways to remember▫Grades

Student Diversity

•Non-traditional students•Students not sold on empty PowerPoint•Get to understand learning/teaching

Change in university climate•Service-based learners•Deep-level learners•Change in proportions•Autodidact/self-learning•Our expectations•As process•Disciplines•Excitement

Legal Issues?

•Getting out of hand•Lawsuits?•“Paranoid fascist”•Student diversity

Comfort level•Students’

▫Not that comfortable•Teacher’s

▫Added stress for setting up (logistics)▫Resource person (individual support)▫We’re also learners

Hope!•Been using a tool, comfortable

▫Need for something else?•Use constructively/critically•Not prison•Special population