four waves of teaching and learning with serf® server-side educational records facilitator
TRANSCRIPT
What Is Serf?
Invented at the University of Delaware in 1997, Serf is a self-paced multimedia learning environment that enables students to navigate a syllabus, access instructional resources, communicate, and submit assignments over the Web.Instructors create courses without having to know HTML.
Textual Content (adds text to the current cluster) Class title (starts a new class cluster)Generic title (starts a new generic cluster)Preamble title (starts a new preamble cluster)Multimedia graphic (adds content with a graphic icon and link) Multimedia movie (adds content with a movie icon and link) Multimedia sound (adds content with a sound icon and link) Multimedia Web site (adds content with a Web site icon and link) Observational assignmentWeb portfolio assignmentWeb query assignmentSubmit file assignmentTrue/false questionMultiple choice questionFill-in-the-blank questionImage map questionShort answer questionSlider question (Likert scale)Examination (launches a test)Strand (launches a tutorial module)Diagnostic (launches a self-assessment)Survey (administers a questionnaire)Control panel (creates a customized control panel)Menu bar (replaces or augments the current Serf menu bar)Banner (replaces or augments the current banner)Trailer (replaces or augments the current trailer)
Kinds of Syllabus Events
Identifying the Zone
Vygotsky defined the zone of proximal development as the difference between the difficulty level of a problem a student can cope with independently and the level that can be accomplished with help from others.Systems like Serf identify the zone and provide the help from others.
Throwing the Zone Away
In traditional teaching, we throw the zone away.Students take tests, the results of which often are never handed back.Students hand in term papers at the end of a course with no chance to rewrite them.We are throwing the zone away.
Teaching in the Zone
Constructivist teaching via the Web brings the student into the zone.The instructor becomes a coach who helps the student achieve goals.Time shifting makes the process efficient and manageable for student and teacher alike.
A Hypothesis
The effectiveness of an online learning system is directly related to the degree in which it facilitates teaching in the zone.Methods I use to do this include:
Giving the student another tryJust-in-time discussionCustomized scaffoldingGallery of other students’ work
Serf 2.0Summer 1998
Version 2 added to Serf a testing system that can administer and grade objective
test questions in a traditional exam style, or present competency-based tests
according to Bloom’s mastery learning model.
Kinds of Test Questions
True/FalseMultiple ChoiceFill-in-the-BlankImage MapShort AnswerSlider (Likert Scale)
Creating aSection
Relative weightQuestion poolRandom or sequentialLengthCompetencyOriginHide or see scoresTime limitAllow skipping questionsAllow changing answersBranching on condition
Serf 3.0Summer 1999
Version 3 added support for surveys, diagnostic assessments, tutorials,
and discussion forums
Serf Portals
One Serf server can support multiple domain names, each of which can have its own unique look and feel.The style table enables each portal to have its own unique look and feel.The Serf logo and branding can be replaced by custom graphics and slogans.Thus, an institution can create a totally customized look and feel without any acknowledgement that the underlying software is powered by Serf.
iCubedConnect for Education
Delivers online courses at 89 Colleges and Universities.Students buy CD-ROM containing unique registration number.Serf ticket office uses registration number to admit one student per CD.
iCubedConnect for Education
Serf sites can create their own branding.The name “Serf” can be totally removed.Shown here is the iCubed branding.
Diploma-At-A-Distance
Graduates receive a real high school diploma from the James H. Groves Adult High School.