When students listen to a lecture together in a classroom, they are engaged in synchronous learning; all students are participating in the learning process at the same time.
In an online course, synchronous learning is no longer a given. Professors can choose whether to offer synchronous learning, asynchronous learning, or a combination of both.
Read on to find out some of the benefits of synchronous learning and asynchronous learning.
A class blog is a great online forum for students to post thoughts, discussions, and multimedia content related to what they’re learning in class. But without an audience to visit and interact with the blog, it’s difficult for students to feel motivated enough to post and maintain the blog.
Enter QuadBlogging, a creative practice that was devised by David Mitchell in 2011. QuadBlogging refers to a system in which 4 classes join together to form a “Quad.” Each week, one class’s blog becomes the focus blog, and the other 3 classes visit and comment on that blog. Thus, after a 4-week cycle, each class has had a turn to become the focus blog, and their work has been viewed and appreciated by the other classes.
Learning analytics refers to the practice of gathering and analyzing data about student performance in order to improve and personalize the learning experience for each student.
Take a look at this infographic created by Open Colleges to find out how learning analytics can be used, what its limitations are, what is holding it back from becoming more popular, and how it can affect the future of learning.
Terry Heick, director at TeachThought, identifies 7 significant idea shifts that are occurring in the educational world today: From Physical to Digital From Standards to Habits From Compliance to Play From Schools to Communities From Reaction to Interaction From Isolation…
Whether you are taking an online class for the first time or you have taken one before, there are several ways you can get a head start on your course and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Here are 5 smart things to do before your course begins:
1. Make sure your computer can handle the level of technology required. For example, will you need to use programs that require Adobe Flash or JavaScript? Will you need speakers to hear lectures or participate in virtual meetings with your professor?
2. Before the class begins, make sure you are able to log on to your LMS. Familiarize yourself with the setup and where the class materials are located so that you wont be disoriented when you have to begin working.