Session 4

1. Our text categorizes electronic information into four types:

Textual Information

Presentation Graphics Slide Show

Spreadsheets and Databases

Multimedia objects

Provide an example or multiple examples of effective use of each type of electronic information for eLearning. Be sure to provide specific information about what makes your indicated use “effective”. Explaining effectiveness in light of one of the media theories as presented in this session (or another media theory you prefer) is expected.

 

• Textual Information: Course outlines, course notes, policies and course assignments are examples and effective uses of textual information, because they are plain text that are simple and fast to create, distribute, and accessed by students which defends Media Richness theory’s position on transmitting information for tasks with little ambiguity.

 

• Presentation Graphics Slide Show: PowerPoint and Prezi presentations are examples of effective uses of graphic slide shows because information is communicated visually and can be viewed on a computer screen, which supports Media Richness theory stance on reducing ambiguity in a learning environment based on the richness of a medium.

 

• Spreadsheets and Databases: Excel grading spreadsheets are effective uses of spreadsheets and databases because it is a great way for instructors and students to communicate grades in a course, and can be effective according to Social Presence theory because of the human component of personal experience.

 

• Multimedia objects: Video lectures and instructional videos for problem solving assignments are examples of effective uses of multimedia objects, and because they forms of communication are visual and created to reduced ambiguity or increase the understanding of a task/assignment these supports Media Richness theory.

 

 

2. Our text goes into some very specific detail on the proper formatting of textual information. Explain what you believe to be the most important guidelines for your use of textual information that are provided in the text and then create a sample text document (other than an announcement) that demonstrates the best practices of formatting textual information. Be sure to explain the purpose of the document and who the intended users are if that isn’t obvious from the document itself.

 

The most important guidelines for use of textual information are:

·         Chunking information

·         Use white spaces and bullet lists

·         Use URL links appropriately

·         Use text links within documents

·         Address user viewing preferences

·         Require standard file formats

 

Career Exploration Assignment

Introduction:

This course is intended to guide an individual through the complex array of career choices. The course is designed for students, as well as the professional, so in this assignment you will explore and select careers you are be interested in pursuing and find useful information in career planning.

 

Process:

1. Explore Career Noodle
2. Select 3 careers you find interesting and thinking about pursuing.
3. Create 3 discussions threads on Blackboard and label each thread according to the career name. 
4. Each thread must include a discussion on overview of the career, level of education, and necessary skills pertinent to the career. 

 

Media and Links:

Career Noodle (http://www.careernoodle.com/devsite/index.php)

 

Interaction:

Student-to-Student

Student-to-Content

Student-to-Instructor

 

Requirements:

Post your discussion on Blackboard and comment on three other career threads and respond with what you found interesting about the career and why.

 

Evaluation:

Each career discussion is worth 10 points if all these criteria are met:

·         Posted before the deadline

·         Discussion addresses all the topics/issues listed in the assignment

·         Students responds to threes posts left by others students in the class

 

 

3. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication as it is used in eLearning and how do you choose between the two for a given task? Be sure to use media theory to bolster your choice.

 

The main difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication is the time order in which the communication occurs, which means one requires its’ participants to be present and the other does not.  According to Media theory, you choose between the two for a given task by the level of ambiguity of the task, so if an assignment or task has a high level of ambiguity like problem-solving, then synchronous communications like telephone conference, face-to-face, video conference would provide a richer (and a clearer) understanding of the assignment.  Since asynchronous forms of communication like emails, discussion threads/forums, and blogs do not require participants to be present at the time of communication these forms of a communication can be use for low levels of ambiguous task/assignments.

 

4. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support synchronous communication? What does media theory suggest to you about each of these?

 

Blackboard supports synchronous communications like web conferencing, chat and virtual classroom and based on four criteria of Media Richness theory these types of synchronous exchanges are media rich and are suited for assignments and task that require instant feedback and transmission of facial queues and tone of voice.

 

5. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support asynchronous communication? What does media theory suggest to you about each of these?

 

Blackboard supports asynchronous communications like blogs, emails, discussion boards, wikis, journals, messages, and announcements, and essence of Social Presence media theory suggest that the a person’s personal experience with asynchronous forms of communication can determine learners’ satisfaction in online classes.

 

6. Describe a task or assignment you could use in an online class that would use either asynchronous or synchronous communication. Explain the task or assignment, identify the technology you would use to support the activity and explain why you chose that technology. Explain what you would do to ensure that the activity was successful.

 

• Career Exploration Assignment: Refer to question #2
• Technology: Discussion
• Explanation:  This is a fairly simple—self-guided—assignment for students to explore their career opportunities.  There is no right or wrong answer and is a fairly structured assignment, so an asynchronous form of communication like discussion board is the best fit for this assignment.  More importantly, the student-to-student interaction for this assignment provides another level of learning that would otherwise with missed if the assignment were just sent in to me.
• Measurement of Success: What I would do to ensure success is to provide students with a grading rubric, create announcements and a sample file of what I am looking for in terms of style and content.

 

Annotated Bibliography Assignment

Locate five journal articles related to issues and/or trends in eLearning. These articles should be from peer reviewed journals although one or two non-peer reviewed resources are permitted.

 

1. Attwell, G. (2007). Personal Learning Environments-the future of eLearning?. eLearning Papers, 2(1), 1-7.

 

2. Drexler, W. (2010). The networked student model for construction of personal learning environments: Balancing teacher control and student autonomy. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(3), 369-385.

 

3. McLoughlin, C., & Lee, M. J. (2008). Mapping the digital terrain: New media and social software as catalysts for pedagogical change. Ascilite Melbourne.

 

4. O'Neill, K., Singh, G., & O'Donoghue, J. (2004). Implementing elearning programmes for higher education: A review of the literature. Journal of Information Technology Education, 3(2).

 

5. Tu, C. H., & Corry, M. (2002). eLearning communities. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 3(2), 207-218.

 

 

 

 

 

Resources:

 

Academic Technology. (n.d). Asynchronous vs. Synchronous. Retreived on Febraury 2, 2013 from http://academictech.doit.wisc.edu/ideas/otr/communication/asynchronous-synchronous#main-menu

 

Difference Between. (n.d). Difference Between Synchronous and Asynchronous. Retrieved on January 30, 2013 from http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-synchronous-and-asynchronous/

 

Newberry, B. Media Theory (Word Document). Retrieved on February 3, 2013 from http://studyonthebeach.com/csusb/classes/winter2013/etec_674_winter_2013/s04.html

 

Waterhouse, S. (2005). The Power of ELearning: The Essentail Guide for Teaching in the Digital Age. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.