Greetings WOL Friends,
Spring is almost here. By now many of you are probably considering schedules, course offerings, and what you will be doing for your summer professional learning. Our WOL Course Catalog is updated and we will continue to work to provide you with high quality offerings in World Languages, Calculus and Chemistry. This summer, through our own professional learning we will be adding courses like Biology, Middle School Science, and other courses you are asking about. Let us know if there are other offerings you hope to see in the comments!
We also hosted a Digital Learning Day Webinar! If you want to see some of the great work our teachers do watch this video.
In this podcast Erin Siverd and Lauren McMinn joined me to discuss our strategies and support for both the synchronous and asynchronous parts of our courses. It has been such a pleasure to add Erin to our team - with a background in science, she is providing insight and ideas that help us to continue to grow and make what we do more relevant. Since Lauren and Erin are both also taking courses online as graduate students they have some unique insights as learners’ as well.
Here are some of the takeaways from our time together:
Lauren and Erin find that being a student in a virtual environment really opens your eyes to best practices, and the importance of great feedback and timely communication in a virtual course.
Lauren shared her experiences as an asynchronous student and emphasized the importance of human connection in virtual learning.
What I'm really enjoying in my class is that my instructor starts every module, every week with a short, personalized video. I see the value in seeing her face and hearing from her. The video highlights what's important every week. It made me realize how important our Monday morning messages are and what a great job our teachers do in providing this very important and personal touch.
We have the advantage of our students being in their classroom together. They can collaborate in real time with their asynchronous learning. While students use the asynchronous material to learn at their own pace, it is effective, in that students can go back, re-watch, slow things down, or move ahead. And, we believe there is a need to maintain a human connection asynchronously through clear personalized messages and specific feedback.
One thing we (WOL) think we might be able to do better is to make use of personalized video messages for both feedback and directions (More on this subject in this podcast). As Lauren described the connection she felt in her course when she saw her teacher, this strategy can help students feel more connected and engaged in the learning process. Audio feedback can also add a personal touch and make the learning experience more engaging for students.
Virtual learning environments can use a synchronous session approach to supplement asynchronous learning, but one thing that Erin and Lauren highlighted is that how the teacher sets up the asynchronous course with communication, expectations or not, really guides the experience. For better or worse.
In our instance we have really created a flipped classroom approach. As Erin points out, we start with really clear communication with the Monday Morning Message (even for our teachers thanks to Erin) that provides a road map for the week. Our Engage and Explore set the target and provide content for students to learn a little bit or cement what they already know about the topic. When they meet with the teacher - they can ask questions, try simulations, put what they are learning into practice.
We LOVE the opportunities we have to explore our practice and engaging in trying to make it better.
We really enjoyed this conversation. It was sparked by this book that I am over the moon about, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Beyond the Brain, with so many relevant connections to teaching and learning. I am grateful that Erin, Lauren, Olivia and our Virtual Facilitators think with us as we expand the ways in which we can make connections in the virtual environment.
When you can’t find a teacher, or need to expand your offerings, you can be sure if the World of Learning at IU8 is partnering with you to provide instruction - your experience, your students' experience, your community's experience will be the best virtual experience you can have. With thoughtful people like Erin and Lauren - you and your students will be in great hands.
Have a great week,
Pat
Synchronous and Asynchronous #37