Teaching Preservice Teachers Online : Pitfalls and Practices John H. Curry, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University Angel Kymes, Ph.D., Northeastern State University

Why would we even try? We were crazy . . . Many have talked about it . . . Administration!

We were crazy . . .

Many have talked about it . . .

Administration!

Three types of issues we faced Administrative Content Student

Administrative

Content

Student

Administrative issues COE wanted a cohort in Tulsa, so an online section would solve sending a faculty member to teach there Implementation of a new course management system (Desire2Learn) No faculty training No student training (or warning!)

COE wanted a cohort in Tulsa, so an online section would solve sending a faculty member to teach there

Implementation of a new course management system (Desire2Learn)

No faculty training

No student training (or warning!)

Content issues Course originally designed for a BlackBoard environment BlackBoard vs. Desire2Learn toolbox vs. hardware store release conditions confusing

Course originally designed for a BlackBoard environment

BlackBoard vs. Desire2Learn

toolbox vs. hardware store

release conditions confusing

Content issues (cont.) Textbook and resources weren’t conducive to facilitating an online course Site was down frequently Lesson planning model was confusing Lesson plan builder not well designed

Textbook and resources weren’t conducive to facilitating an online course

Site was down frequently

Lesson planning model was confusing

Lesson plan builder not well designed

Student issues Late registration Many who enrolled for the second section of the course enrolled after the beginning of the semester Late enrollees generally are not disposed to be proactive OCED enrollment Students have limited or no background in education

Late registration

Many who enrolled for the second section of the course enrolled after the beginning of the semester

Late enrollees generally are not disposed to be proactive

OCED enrollment

Students have limited or no background in education

Solutions New text with online materials better suited to our needs

New text with online materials better suited to our needs

Solutions (cont.) Complete content redesign Better use of Desire2Learn Different chunking methods Took advantage of the “Hardware Store” Use of the calendar

Complete content redesign

Better use of Desire2Learn

Different chunking methods

Took advantage of the “Hardware Store”

Use of the calendar

Use of calendar Everything posted on Monday, and then due Saturday at 10:00 pm.

Everything posted on Monday, and then due Saturday at 10:00 pm.

Podcasting Tried it on a whim, after AWFUL WebQuests were turned in. Chapter overviews--not covering everything Four parts Music shout out Content overview Quiz password Description of assignments

Tried it on a whim, after AWFUL WebQuests were turned in.

Chapter overviews--not covering everything

Four parts

Music shout out

Content overview

Quiz password

Description of assignments

One year later . . . Things run MUCH smoother! Changes in the face to face classes f2f students heard about the podcasts and wanted to hear them as well Opened up time in the face to face classrooms--now a truer hybrid

Things run MUCH smoother!

Changes in the face to face classes

f2f students heard about the podcasts and wanted to hear them as well

Opened up time in the face to face classrooms--now a truer hybrid

What else has changed? Content, baby! Out with the Office suite When do we get past teaching word processing to students? In with the “Freak of the Week” Bring on blogs, welcome wikis, promote podcasting, validate video, remember RSS, support social networking and bookmarking, and NEVER forget folksonomies!

Content, baby!

Out with the Office suite

When do we get past teaching word processing to students?

In with the “Freak of the Week”

Bring on blogs, welcome wikis, promote podcasting, validate video, remember RSS, support social networking and bookmarking, and NEVER forget folksonomies!

In summary . . . Administrative issues Took care of themselves Content issues Solved with redesign and new text Student issues Some still exist, but familiarity with D2L has helped TREMENDOUSLY

Administrative issues

Took care of themselves

Content issues

Solved with redesign and new text

Student issues

Some still exist, but familiarity with D2L has helped TREMENDOUSLY

So is this a viable online course? The real answer? It depends . . .

The real answer?

It depends . . .

Questions?