3.3 Online & Blended Learning
Candidates develop, model, and facilitate the use of online and blended learning, digital content and learning networks to support and extend student learning and expand opportunities and choices for professional learning for teachers and administrators. ((PSC 3.3/ISTE 3c)
Artifact:
Reflection:
This artifact includes the professional development workshop I developed for the Discovery Education Network (DEN) virtual conference. I presented this session as a part of the conference and subsequently conducted a session for my peers where I teach. My contribution was the research, design, and facilitation of the face-to-face session, as well as the online and blended learning that followed. As seen in the artifact, I created a website to use as a platform to present from. This website housed information on how to use Edmodo, helpful resources and ideas for use in the classroom. Additionally this website provided a means for blended and ongoing learning and reference for teachers and administrators in their use of this web tool. Edmodo can be a powerful tool if used effectively that supports and extends student learning. Furthermore, as the content of this artifact demonstrates, its use can expand opportunities and choices for professional learning in the many professional learning networks it connects us with.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to develop online and blended learning, digital content and learning networks. This is evidenced by the content and resources developed and shown as a part of this artifact which were used to facilitate, not only a face-to-face session, but to provide an online community or network for continued learning. The Digital content of the website included how-to videos for teachers and students, digital step-by-step instructions on how to use Edmodo, and other web resources. The resources provided as a part of this artifact may be utilized in a live, online or blended learning arrangement. Additionally a digital evaluation on the effectiveness of a live or online session was developed using Google forms and is linked from the homepage of the website.
An extremely valuable aspect of Edmodo is the learning networks it provides. I established an Edmodo group for training purposes in conjunction with the professional development session which links from the home page of the website. This Edmodo group provided ongoing communication with the participants who became an ongoing learning community. This created an ideal means of assisting in their changing and ongoing learning needs. The network of learning among the participants extends well beyond a live session. Additionally, Edmodo provides countless other learning networks teachers and administrators can join as this artifact demonstrates. For example, I am a member of the Science Edmodo Community, and receive ongoing ideas and resources shared by science teachers in this community from around the world. I was able to successfully model and demonstrate this learning network with other teachers as a part of this artifact. In this way, the participants and I have expanded opportunities and choices for professional learning.
Once the development was completed, I was then able to successfully model and facilitate the online and blended learning, digital content and learning networks with positive feedback. The face-to-face learning included opportunities for me to model the use of Edmodo’s tools and features within Edmodo group referenced earlier. Once the participants joined the Edmodo group we were able to digitally communicate via postings back and forth as they would with their students, and they were able to complete tasks as I assigned them, such as a brief survey and assignment. These are beneficial tools in extending the student learning. When the live session was over, however, the learning continued via the learning network that had been established. The participants engage in online learning at their convenience and on an as-needed basis as they access the videos and other resources made available on the website and through the network. Additionally communication continues with me and others in the network using Edmodo, which keep the participants current on the latest trends and resources as changes occur and the technology develops.
As I completed this artifact I learned a great deal about online and blended learning. I learned the value providing how-to videos and other resources and making them available in one location in a website as opposed to individual and separate searches. I learned additional online resources and how to use those in a blended learning arrangement. Finally, I gained additional knowledge on Edmodo as I prepared to lead the session and facilitate ongoing learning. In reflecting on the artifact and the experiences involved with it, I believe there are some things I may do differently. I would build in more time for hands-on in the live session which would provide coaching opportunities. I would promote and solicit greater participation in the online and blended portions of the learning experience.
The work that went into creating this artifact positively impacts faculty development. As a faculty member myself, I believe my knowledge and skill gained in the area of online and blended learning development will equip me to successfully do more in the future and expand my opportunities. The recipients of the training, my fellow teachers, will be gaining knowledge and skill in Edmodo, or other topics to be learned in the future. This learning may be assessed via the Teacher Keys process to include principal observation and documentation. The digital tools these teachers learn will increase their use and effectiveness in the classroom, and thus student learning will be positively impacted as well. The impact on student learning is assessed via completion of the various forms of formative and summative assessments.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to develop online and blended learning, digital content and learning networks. This is evidenced by the content and resources developed and shown as a part of this artifact which were used to facilitate, not only a face-to-face session, but to provide an online community or network for continued learning. The Digital content of the website included how-to videos for teachers and students, digital step-by-step instructions on how to use Edmodo, and other web resources. The resources provided as a part of this artifact may be utilized in a live, online or blended learning arrangement. Additionally a digital evaluation on the effectiveness of a live or online session was developed using Google forms and is linked from the homepage of the website.
An extremely valuable aspect of Edmodo is the learning networks it provides. I established an Edmodo group for training purposes in conjunction with the professional development session which links from the home page of the website. This Edmodo group provided ongoing communication with the participants who became an ongoing learning community. This created an ideal means of assisting in their changing and ongoing learning needs. The network of learning among the participants extends well beyond a live session. Additionally, Edmodo provides countless other learning networks teachers and administrators can join as this artifact demonstrates. For example, I am a member of the Science Edmodo Community, and receive ongoing ideas and resources shared by science teachers in this community from around the world. I was able to successfully model and demonstrate this learning network with other teachers as a part of this artifact. In this way, the participants and I have expanded opportunities and choices for professional learning.
Once the development was completed, I was then able to successfully model and facilitate the online and blended learning, digital content and learning networks with positive feedback. The face-to-face learning included opportunities for me to model the use of Edmodo’s tools and features within Edmodo group referenced earlier. Once the participants joined the Edmodo group we were able to digitally communicate via postings back and forth as they would with their students, and they were able to complete tasks as I assigned them, such as a brief survey and assignment. These are beneficial tools in extending the student learning. When the live session was over, however, the learning continued via the learning network that had been established. The participants engage in online learning at their convenience and on an as-needed basis as they access the videos and other resources made available on the website and through the network. Additionally communication continues with me and others in the network using Edmodo, which keep the participants current on the latest trends and resources as changes occur and the technology develops.
As I completed this artifact I learned a great deal about online and blended learning. I learned the value providing how-to videos and other resources and making them available in one location in a website as opposed to individual and separate searches. I learned additional online resources and how to use those in a blended learning arrangement. Finally, I gained additional knowledge on Edmodo as I prepared to lead the session and facilitate ongoing learning. In reflecting on the artifact and the experiences involved with it, I believe there are some things I may do differently. I would build in more time for hands-on in the live session which would provide coaching opportunities. I would promote and solicit greater participation in the online and blended portions of the learning experience.
The work that went into creating this artifact positively impacts faculty development. As a faculty member myself, I believe my knowledge and skill gained in the area of online and blended learning development will equip me to successfully do more in the future and expand my opportunities. The recipients of the training, my fellow teachers, will be gaining knowledge and skill in Edmodo, or other topics to be learned in the future. This learning may be assessed via the Teacher Keys process to include principal observation and documentation. The digital tools these teachers learn will increase their use and effectiveness in the classroom, and thus student learning will be positively impacted as well. The impact on student learning is assessed via completion of the various forms of formative and summative assessments.