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Thriving Online in Higher Education

Dr. Robin Kay

https://bit.ly/otu-ONL-2023

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Free E-Book

Thriving Online: �A Guide for Busy Educators

bit.ly/ThriveOnline-2022

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Questions

Please post questions here

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Let’s Go for a Test Drive

Task 1 - Click on the chat button at the bottom of the Zoom window

    • What City/Town, Country and Time you are you signing in from today?

Task 2 - Turn camera on if you wish (click on video - bottom left corner)

    • Gentle, fun requests at the beginning (you are my favourite student)
    • Camera on - I will be more engaging
    • Camera on - I will get to know you better (for future references)

Task 3 - Background (Delayed Response)

    • What is the best thing about teaching online?

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Introduction - Version 1

Robin Kay

  • Dean & Professor
  • Ontario Tech since 2003
  • Teaching
    • High School - 6 years
    • Community College - 5 years
    • University - 17 years
    • Online teaching 10+ years
  • Research
    • Education and Technology
    • Online & ELearning
    • Video Creation

@kayuoit

linkedin.com/in/kayuoit

www.drrobinkay.org

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Introduction - Version 2

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Caveats for Today’s Workshop

  • My Goal: To offer the best suggestions that I know based on
    • Cognitive/Learning Science and Online Learning Research
    • 12 years experience teaching online in higher education�
  • BUT
    • Each context is different (class size, subject matter, labs, assessment)
    • Your questions/ideas/challenges will be helpful so PLEASE ASK�
  • AND
    • I have a strong bias toward a synchronous/virtual online format
    • 95% (sync) vs. 55% (asynch) success rate�

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Todays Menu

  1. Learning Framework
  2. Big Picture Ideas
  3. Video Creation Tips
  4. Assessment
  5. Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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  • Social presence or building connections with and among students is critical

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  • Asynchronous - 55% graduation rate vs. �Synchronous - 95% graduation rate in �OnTech MEd

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Big Picture Ideas

Organization

5-10 min rule

E-Culture

Monitoring Chat

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Organization

  • Preparation and organization are critical online - it is harder to repair interruptions or flow problems�
  • Sample Course Website
  • Sample Lesson

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5-10 min Content Rule

Content �(Lots of visuals)

Activity

Student Response

Chat

Poll

Answer Garden

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Breakout Rooms/PLNs

Google Doc

Google Slide

Mind Map

Practice Problems

Case study

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Setting Your E-Culture - Example

  • Prior to Meeting How To Zoom Video (1:59)
  • Turn Mics Off
  • Turn Cameras On (especially in breakout groups)
  • One person monitoring chat
  • Online Netiquette Rules

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Volunteer Chat Monitors

  • Volunteer to monitor chat, questions, raised hand
  • Students enjoy taking on this role
  • Students ask questions throughout using chat and the monitor draws your attention to the questions
  • Create a Questions Doc - When time is tight

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Video Creation - Part 1 (Quality)

  1. Quick Chat Question - Your favorite video creation tool (delayed response) or I don’t create videos (yet)
  2. My Tips - Pay Intention (We are Going to Vote)
    1. 2-6 minutes in length (max)
    2. Pretend that you are having a conversation with one student
    3. Avoid perfection - hard to learn from
    4. No background music
    5. Meaningful title
    6. Visuals not a lot of text
    7. Clear layout
    8. Highlight what you are doing
    9. YouTube with automatic closed captioning

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Polling Question - Videos

Pick your top 3 characteristics?

Vote using Straw Poll: Click here

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Assessment

Checklist/Rubric

Crystal Clear

Video Overview

Choice

Creative

Authentic �Non Disposable

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Pre-Course Ideas

  1. Pre-course survey: Ask about key information
  2. Big picture video for a course
  3. Rules/Culture: Online Netiquette Rules
  4. How to succeed in online learning video (3:45)
  5. Student intro videos in FlipGrid
  6. Learning portal/hub �(e.g., Web Page, Canvas, Google Classroom)

Prepare to Rank Order Your Preference

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Focussing Students - Poll Junkie

Rank Order - Best to Worst at Poll Junkie

  • Vote here

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Resource 1: Useful Technology Guide

Teacher’s Guide for Tech

Sample Version of Guide

Purchase 2021 version here ($15 US)

Purchase 2022 version here ($25 US)

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Resource 2: Online Tools for Teaching & Learning

Walkthrough: Here

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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The First Class/Week

  1. Build Community
  2. Engaging Teacher Intro
  3. Graphic - Big Picture
  4. Agenda for each class
  5. Online Culture / Rules
  6. Icebreakers (Breakout)
  7. Lesson Plan Link

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

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  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Online Activities

Breakout Rooms (General Ideas)

  • 4 student maximum
  • Always produce something
  • Tight timing
  • Ideas
    • Discuss a question/reading and create a summary of ideas
    • Produce a visual summary
    • Create a definition of list of characteristics
    • Create a one slide presentation
    • Prepare a debate plan a topic
    • Review/Evaluate artifact (e.g., learning tool, blog post, website)
    • Evaluate a video and generate questions
    • Solve a problem in (or problem set) teams
    • Work on a case study

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Online Activities

Two Vote Polling

    • Pick a challenging question with at least 2 clear possible answers for students
    • Poll 1 - Students vote and there should be a spread of answers
    • Move into breakout groups to discuss answers and try to convince other sof you answer
    • Poll 2 - Vote again after breakout groups
    • Teacher/students discuss solution

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Online Activities

Large Class Discussion

    • Very challenging
    • Prime to topic with intro/video/poll
    • Use the chat
    • Student monitors chat
    • Ask specific students about chat responses - starts a conversation
    • Really engage with the first 1-2 people (listen, be positive, encourage)
    • Try to bring out details and potential conflicting opinions

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

​

  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

​

Your Questions During & After

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Consolidating Your Lesson/Week

  • Give yourself 5 -10 min at the end of each lesson �(even if you don’t finish)
  • Create summary of key concepts addressed (one slide)
  • Link to summary page (Google Doc) of what follow up work they need to do for home activities (I include short video explanations)
  • Solicit anonymous feedback on course (Google Form) every 2-3 weeks
  • Use chat to make sure students are clear on your expectations

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Todays Menu

  • Learning Framework
  • Big Picture Ideas
  • Video Creation Tips
  • Assessment
  • Pre-Course Ideas

​

  • Useful Technology Tools
  • Your First Class/Week
  • Online Activities
  • Consolidation
  • Home Activities

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Your Questions During & After

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Home Activity Ideas

Video Commentary

Video Presentation

Readings & Video Discussion

Learning Module

Asking questions watching Video

Collaboration

  • Webpage
  • Slides
  • Mind Map

Mastery Questions

Blog Posts

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A few final ideas ...

  • PLNs: Form personal learning networks with other students
  • Growth Mindset is best - you will have missteps
  • Self Care: Slow but sure is a good pace - take care of yourself
  • Feedback: Gather feedback as you go
  • Stay Calm: When difficulties arise, be the calm voice in the room

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Resources

  1. Book - Thriving Online - A Guide for Busy Teachers
  2. Slides: Click here
  3. Ditch That Textbook: E-Learning Resources
  4. Comprehensive Ed Tech Tool Guide: Teacher’s Guide for Tech
  5. Podcast: Cult of Pedagogy

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Contact Information

Email: robin.kay@ontariotechu.ca

Webpage: www.drrobinkay.org

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@kayuoit

linkedin.com/in/kayuoit

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