Best+Practices+in+Online+Learning

8:30 AM session
This session provides a balanced view of best practices in online learning. The presenters will discuss key components of powerful online education programs, including curriculum alignment and content-driven technology tools. Learn the strategies they employ in their online courses. Also take away ideas to enhance the traditional classroom through a blended solution of face-to-face and online learning activities. Presenters: Melanie Laber (laber.m@mivu.org), Kristi Bush (bush.k@mivu.org) - Michigan Virtual School Website: www.mivu.org

Key Component #1: Virtual Environment

 * Virtual School site: Blackboard bb.mivu.org
 * Protected environment with login and password
 * Synchronous and asynchronous classrooms
 * Wimba Classroom (allows a synchronous environment; would need in a language class)
 * Blending: lecture = podcasts, worksheet = interactive activities, written test = self-graded assignment, lab/experiment = online simulation
 * Timesaving Tips: existing files, e-textbooks, textbook company e-resources, test generators
 * **Powerful tools:**
 * 1) Discovery Education streaming
 * 2) HippoCampus: ready-to-go units for different curricular areas, aligned to textbooks, **audio,** video, interactive practice
 * 3) Respondus: bridge between existing tests and Blackboard, good for reporting as well
 * 4) SAS Curriculum Pathways: similar to HippoCampus; great web links (webquests), free to all teachers; one of strongest tools is Writing Reviser (English); can choose certain elements to use (assigned by teacher); interactive activities for math (Grapher)
 * 5) Explorelearning: must pay for this but worth it; math and science hands-on activities called Gizmos (grade 3-12)
 * 6) Maple T.A. 5.0: math assessment tool
 * (Personal note: regarding assessment: Quia.com has all the tools deemed necessary by the presenters for online testing)
 * Blackboard has an automatic filter (safe assign) for papers turned in electronically to check for plagiarism

Key Component #2: Curriculum

 * **Provide lots of resources: let students decide which ones suit them the best**
 * Students
 * E-textbook (interactive)
 * Discussion Board
 * Brain Pop (Video tutorials, practice, assessment)
 * Traditional schools determine curriculum through state documents, standardized testing models/results, etc. These are followed for online curriculum as well
 * Additional steps at MVS: Administrators and course developers looks at all content
 * Curriculum Alignment Tools coming soon to Blackboard (will be able to do gap analysis and connect assessment results to content standards being evaluated)

Key Component #3: Assessment

 * Standardized test prep with multiple choice testing
 * Critical thinking responses with writing
 * Clear rubrics needed for essay questions (how students will be evaluated) posted as part of question
 * Assessment Reporting and Data Analysis available (**meaningful feedback**)
 * Ability to see how much time students are using tools

Time to blend!

 * Started //slowly//
 * Key Components
 * 1) Platform: expand onto web
 * 2) Curriculum and instruction: **enhance** with content-driven tech tools (if it doesn't enhance the course, **don't use it!**)
 * 3) Assessment: save time and provide immediate feedback