E. J. Sobo's Learning Story

A Different Kettle of Fish: A Different Kettle of Fish:

Elisa (EJ) SoboAnthropology

Re-visioning Classroom Re-visioning Classroom Courses Courses

for Online Learningfor Online Learning

ANTH 402ANTH 402

Dynamics of Biocultural Diversity:

“Interaction of biology and culture in human populations. Relating genetic and cultural processes to the changes in human populations over time.”

ANTH 402ANTH 402

Upper division GE course◦ Explorations - Natural Science◦ Cultural Diversity

Constantly offered ◦ WC 220 – 150 seats◦ 2 or 3 F2F meetings per week

Lectures interspersed with in-class activities

Design CycleDesign CycleFirst phase: Decide to do it!

◦ Opportunity to increase learning Will lack of lectures lead students to engage

directly and more deeply with course materials?

◦ Opportunity to ‘update’ F2F version and free up more in-class time for discussion by making more active use of Blackboard

Content delivery Assessment

◦ Opportunity to service more students

But I don’t know nuthin’ But I don’t know nuthin’ about…about…

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/01/25/fondue_coolrunnings_narrowweb__300x423,0.jpg

Up the steep learning Up the steep learning curvecurveAdvanced use of Blackboard

◦ Test & Survey functions◦ Various assignment submission modes◦ Voice Presentation tool◦ Live Classroom

Captivate software for animated ppt shows

Full commitment to learner-centered approach◦ Complete pre-fabrication◦ Active learning tasks◦ Relevant graded work

Where am I now? Where am I now?

Concerns but not WorriesConcerns but not Worries◦ No live energy, no hand waving, no body

language◦ Cheating

Rotating questions etc. Safe Assign

◦ Technical problems

What keeps me up at What keeps me up at night?night?

◦Will students feel isolated / Will students enjoy the interactive projects? Position paper Wiki

What keeps me up at What keeps me up at night?night?

◦Will students feel isolated / Will students enjoy the interactive projects? Position paper Wiki

◦Will students follow instructions? Will students be able to navigate the Website? Will students do the work? Will students meet deadlines?

◦Will students learn? Will no-lecture format lead to better outcomes?

What keeps me up at What keeps me up at night?night?

◦Will students feel isolated / Will students enjoy the interactive projects? Position paper Wiki

◦Will students follow instructions? Will students be able to navigate the Website? Will students do the work? Will students meet deadlines?

◦Will students learn? Will no-lecture format lead to better outcomes?

What Next?What Next?◦Course building

Upload resources, assignments Test links

◦Resource creation Captivate presentations Voice recordings Documentation (book chapters) Quizzes and tests

What I’ve learned so farWhat I’ve learned so farSet aside truckloads of prep time Take test drives

DJ Sobo

What I’ve learned so farWhat I’ve learned so farSet aside truckloads of prep timeTake test drivesPrep students for tech probs, ‘high’

workloadIssue reminders, post waymarkers

◦ ‘Pedagogically Proactive Maternalism’◦ Free students to think about content, not

form

http://media.canada.com/idl/cahr/20080813/218787-75500.jpg / Grant Black, Calgary Herald

http://jpehanich.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/olympics-winners-circle_jamaican-bobsled2.jpg