Classroom Assessment Techniques for FSI

Please Take Our Survey by Clicking here- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG4tZ0dhOXowYzZpcHJPc2oyenBqd0E6MQ

Access Our Class Wiki by Clicking here- https://cattools.wikispaces.com/

Resources
50 Classroom Assessment Techniques - http://pages.uoregon.edu/tep/resources/newteach/fifty_cats.pdf

23 Things for Online Teaching

In general…

1.     Commit to becoming a lifelong learner. As technology and other things evolve… You must evolve, too.

2.     Consider setting up an email address that you will use specific for tools, articles, and other things directly related to online teaching. This will keep you organized and will serve as a bank of resources for online teaching.

3.     Find a way to stay organized using bookmarking tools such as diigo or delicious.

4.     Take a class online. You can learn a lot about how your students’ feel when you become the student.

Social Networking Tools

5.     Join twitter and connect with other professionals and individuals with similar interests. You also want to follow people who may be experts in online teaching.

6.     Use TweetDeck ot TweetChat to participate in twitter chats that take place that are related to your field and profession.

7.     Find ways to incorporate social networking tools in your courses by learning about ways other instructors are using them. Click here to begin your research. 

Course Content

8.     Find videos that can help demonstrate or Explain course content. Try You Tube, Teacher Tube, You Tube forEducators, and other video-sharing sites.

9.      Use Jing as a tool to help students navigate your course and show students things by letting them see your computer while you talk.

10.  Find Podcasts that are relevant to your course and share with students.

11.  Check websites such as Merlot, the National Science DigitalLibrary, and Wisc-Online for Learning Objects that already exist. Another instructor may have already spent time developing a great learning object for content that you may be teaching. Work smarter, not harder.

12.  When you can’t find something that is already available, create your own audio or video content. Search in Google or YouTube for a variety of tutorials, instructional information, and reviews.

13.  If typical Powerpoint is not working for you, try Prezi. This tool allows for much more flexibility when presenting information.

Communication

14.  Decide on the ways you will communicate with students and make that information in a variety of places. The most important thing in an online class is communication because you will not be seeing your students.

15.  Use Skype for conferencing with individual students. It allows for video, audio, and textual communication. You can also send links or files while talking.

16.  Consider Google Apps for collaborative work. Google Docs allows students to collaborate on documents and they can chat while working. Google Huddle also allows for conferencing.

17.  Using conferencing tools such as Illuminate Live or Wimba to “meet” with all your students at once.

18.  Use asynchronous tools such as wikis, blogs, and discussion boards to get students collaborating and working together without the expectation that they all get together at the same time.

19.  If you will use email, let students know how often you will check it and how soon they can expect a reply.

20.  Set up online office hours and use a synchronous communication tool that students can use. Students will then know when they can expect to get in touch with you. You can use AOL Instant Messenger, Skype, Gmail Chat, etc.

Remember…

21.  Without the structure of a face-to-face meeting, students need even more structure and organization. So, make sure you are clear, concise, and organized.

22.   Make sure you are using pedagogy and teaching and learning theories when designing your course. Make sure hat your use of technology tools is intentional and used in a way that will enhance learning.

23.  HAVE FUN!!!

First Week Introductions

On Online Courses, I often have my students introduce themselves the first week in the discussion board. It's not very interactive, but it gets the job done. Well, I was in a workshop recently an another instructor shared a way that she does he introductions on an online class and I plan to use this next semester. She asks them to introduce themselves using:

1. Animoto
2. Powerpoint
3. Video
4. Any other visual way.

She then has them upload it to the discussion board or post a link to the discussion board. It really breaks the ice and gets students to be creative. It also helps to "break the ice" and get rid of some of the transactional distance that takes place in many online classes. What do you think of the video I created using Animoto? It was really simple and it's a great way to make online classes a little more personal. Find the link here.

Preventing Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism and cheating have become more of an issue as more things are available on online. Check out a quick instructional video. I created to help address these issues. I tried something new by using a combination of Jing and Prezi to create this video. Check out my video Titled, Preventing Plagiarism and Cheating.

Image from: registrarism.wordpress.com

Google Docs... For all of your Survey/Quiz Needs

As an educator, I am always looking for ways to gather information from my students. Sometimes I want to assess what my students know and sometimes I may just want feedback from my students. If your school or university uses a Course Management System (CMS), many of them have several tools for surveys or exams. However, if you don't need the bells and whistles of your course management system or you don't have one, Google Docs provides a great option for assessments. This could even be a survey you use to get feedback from your clients or a form you use to get information.

In order to create a survey you go to Google Docs and choose to create a new form. You then have several types of questions you ask. The information that your respondents complete is given to you in a nice spreadsheet form. To look at the survey I created for student feedback click here.

Check out the video below for instructions on creating a survey or assessment tool in Google Docs.

Are there other ways that you use Google Docs or other Google Apps in your teaching?

Try Prezi to Liven Up Your Presentations

Have you ever created a PowerPoint and thought.... "This linear format just doesn't work well with my topic?" or "I wish there a way to make this more interesting. Well... Now there is. You must try Prezi. This is an online tool that gives you a canvas to build presentations. It can present information in a non-linear way and gives you an area that allows for flexibility, images, and a variety of other ways to communicate information.

I created a presentation on Counseling and Web 2.0 that you can find here. The learning curve on this tool is a little higher for this tool, but the "pay off" is great. This tools opens up possibilities for ways that we can teach the 21st century learner.  It also has a collaborative tool, as well. For more information about Prezi watch the video below.

I would love to see examples of Prezi that you have created or that you use in your courses.

Our President Obama and LinkedIn Team Up to Discuss American Jobs

Social Networking tools have dramatically made a space in the lives of millions of America. Not only are they influencing our students, our personal lives, and our teaching, but they are also influencing our professional lives. LinkedIn is a social networking site that has been connecting individuals people professionally since 2002. LinkedIn.com states that they have 120 million members and this membership is growing rapidly at the pace of two new members per second. I have been a member of LinkedIn for a few years, but not until recently have I began to use it consistently as a way to increase my professional network. Through LinkedIn, I have been able to connect with past colleagues, meet professionals with similar research interests, and connect with professionals that have contributed to my professional development. In addition to connecting individuals professionally, LinkedIn has also become an influential voice in the debate and discussion about America's economical challenges. Watch below to view the town hall meeting with our President Barak Obama, hosted by LinkedIn, Putting America Back to Work.

Thank you LinkedIn for focusing on issues that are important to the American people. To learn more about LinkedIn or to join, please click here.