Engaging Online Classroom Activities

(All this Internet stuff, is it really worth it?)

OEDS6520

rev. 03/2008

"Challenges are what make life interesting;
overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
"

-----Joshua J. Marine

 

 My goal in this hands-on class is to provide you with an abundance of online classroom activities no matter your grade level or subject area. I am confident you will discover many engaging projects and resources that you can implement for the coming school year.  I hope you become as excited as I have in teaching your students how to collect information, share it with others and solve authentic problems. You will also have the opportunity to author your own activity that best meets the needs of your curriculum.
 

In your role as students in this course, I will provide a hands-on collaborative approach with some "coaching" as needed.  We will incorporate brief lectures and group discussions when it is more efficient for the purpose of exploring new concepts and sharing our results. 

The following is an outline for our units of work.  While it is my intent to adhere to this schedule, I have built in some flexibility for you to discover other related concepts not on our time table.  My only request is that you share any new and exciting ideas with our class. 

 

Be sure to view the Taxonomy of Internet Projects

 

Richness: How much does your curriculum provide?

 

 


    Day One:  After introductions and outlining the goals & expectations for the class we will begin our survey of Interpersonal Exchanges and Work & Experience Exchanges.  We will investigate a variety of sites and then share our findings.  Please briefly notate your impressions, both good and bad.  For background purposes you will need to review the article, "Interpersonal Exchanges", by Judi Harris.  While published awhile ago, I think you will find the information relevant.
    Day Two: We will review the previous day's genres, Interpersonal Exchanges and Work & Experience Exchanges, discuss the article you reviewed.  Next we will introduce the Information Collection activity structures.  Again,  please write down your impressions for the purpose of sharing with your colleagues.  Also, please review another (historical) article by Judi Harris, "Information Collections".
    Day Three: After reviewing our previous day's genre, information collection, and discussing your article, we will explore Problem-Solving activity structures and examples.  After sharing our findings, we will be able to develop a list of attributes of education telecomputing projects and introduce suggestions for outcome project designs.  At this point we will discuss the use of web editing software for the purpose of creating an on-line activity.  Your final article for review is "Problem Solving Projects", by Judi Harris.
     Day Four:  Let's put it all together (review all activity structures, design processes, etc.)!  After we discuss assigned article (authored by Judi Harris), we will work in grade level or content areas and/or thematic area groups to develop specific projects for your classroom. 

Day Five:  We will review attributes of educational telecomputing projects as well as look at aspects of engaged learning by viewing the article, "Meaningful, Engaged Learning" from the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL®)  

While completing our projects, we will build notions and plans for assessment of student learning.  When completed, we will then share projects with the entire group and offer to post on a website and/or archive to removable storage for you to post at your school. 

 

 

Resources

Interpersonal Exchanges

Information Collections

Problem
Solving

Work & Experience Exchange

Syllabus

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Instructor