The document discusses strategies for building an online learning community in large university classes. It recommends using social media and communication tools to increase interactions between professors and students and among students. This helps keep students engaged with the class material before, during and after class sessions. The document argues that a connected community of learners can enhance the learning experience over individual learning by answering each other's questions, providing peer support, and allowing knowledge and projects to develop collaboratively. It provides examples of how online communities have helped facilitate events like a Skype session with a Nobel Prize winner. Overall, the strategies aim to create an extended network of lifelong learners that continues beyond a single class.

1. Awakening Community:
New Tools in a New Age
John Boyer (joboyer@vt.edu)
Dept. of Geography
Virginia Tech
Twitter: @plaidavenger

3. The technology tools now
available to communicate
and to deliver content are
AWESOME!!!
...but don’t be forced into
compliance, nor lulled
into complacency....

4. A few general
strategies we use
in super-large
classes...

5. Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
A few general
strategies we use
in super-large
classes...

6. Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
A few general
strategies we use
in super-large
classes...

7. Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
Strategy #3: Make a class into a
community
A few general
strategies we use
in super-large
classes...

8. -Communicate in their languages
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

9. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

10. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Increases student/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

11. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Increases student/student interactions
Provides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

12. These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to
that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students
interact with other
students

13. These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to
that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students
interact with other
students

14. These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to
that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students
interact with other
students

15. Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the
professor to the students

16. Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the
professor to the students

17. Tools that help connect
the professor to the
students Ustream - Online office hours

18. Tools that help connect
the professor to the
students
Creating a powerful PERCEPTION of availability
Ustream - Online office hours

19. Tools that help give
students a voice during
class, building a sense of
active involvement
Twitter - Class hashtag
streamed live on-screen

20. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Increases student/student interactions
Provides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

21. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Increases student/student interactions
Provides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space
(and often interacting aboutYOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

22. -Communicate in their languages
Increases teacher/student interactions
Increases student/student interactions
Provides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space
(and often interacting aboutYOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth

23. Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

24. -Flexibility in lecture content availability
accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

25. -Flexibility in lecture content availability
accommodates different schedules
YOURS
TOO!
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

26. -Flexibility in lecture content availability
accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

27. -Flexibility in lecture content availability
accommodates different schedules
-Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates
different learning styles and testing strengths
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

28. 1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)
2)Midterm Exam=125
3)Final Exam=125
4)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)
5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)
6)Non-class events paper=25/each
7)Atlas quizzes (11)=110
8)Twitter Assignment=200
9)Forum Commenting (14wks) =210
10)Geographic Film Review=25/each
11)Flash Quizzes=???
12)Random Attendance=???
13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=???
Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A
950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example

29. Diversity of student assessment
options...combination of automated and
‘manual’ systems
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)
2)Midterm Exam=125
3)Final Exam=125
4)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)
5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)
6)Non-class events paper=25/each
7)Atlas quizzes (11)=110
8)Twitter Assignment=200
9)Forum Commenting (14wks) =210
10)Geographic Film Review=25/each
11)Flash Quizzes=???
12)Random Attendance=???
13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=???
Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A
950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example

30. -Create assignments that utilize the on-line
environments they already use...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options

31. .....and harnesses their knowledge, creativity, and energies

32. Strategy #3: Build a learning community

33. Sounds kind of sappy to me....

34. Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me,
the expert, not other students.

35. Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me,
the expert, not other students.
So why bother building a community?

36. -Helps keep students engaged, interested, and active
before/during/after class
A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the
live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week
-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other
and inform each other much more
Basically, because a community can increase student
learning, learning opportunities, and may even make
your job way easier than dealing with 3000 individual
students
-Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares
students much more for ‘the real world’

37. Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:

38. A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions
...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:

39. A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions
...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:

40. A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions
...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:

41. A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions
...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
And a community can take
care of problems as well...
like our
FACEBOOK SCANDAL
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:

42. Community building is not all
academically-oriented either...

43. More important than the mundane:
a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more
logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...

44. More important than the mundane:
a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more
logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...

45. A COMMUNITY knows what everyone else is up to
...3000 INDIVIDUALS working solo do not

46. A COMMUNITY knows what everyone else is up to
...3000 INDIVIDUALS working solo do not

47. A COMMUNITY knows what everyone else is up to
...3000 INDIVIDUALS working solo do not
Peer review, group projects, and peer to peer networking
can really raise the standards of student work

48. A COMMUNITY feels comfortable and even compelled
to add to the class in a great diversity of ways
...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not

49. A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more
than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make
the impossible possible with a collective voice.

50. A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more
than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make
the impossible possible with a collective voice.
...GROUP SYNERGY evolves organically

51. Aung San Suu Kyi
Noble Peace Prize Winner
and chairperson of the
National League for
Democracy in Burma
Led to live Skype session with her
Initial interest from
Burmese student
Skype shout out & social networking by students

52. A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the
class is over
...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not
Thus we are seeing creating a life-long
community of learners that grows every
semester, and now includes alumni, family
members and friends...

53. A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the
class is over
...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not
Thus we are seeing creating a life-long
community of learners that grows every
semester, and now includes alumni, family
members and friends...
Creating life-long
learners...isn’t that
what we teachers are
all about?

54. ...but what are business types doing with
this digital “community” stuff?

55. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR

56. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR

57. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR

58. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR

59. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR
-to at least “appear” to be attentive to consumer
concerns

60. Business Objective #1: Manage your PR
-to at least “appear” to be attentive to consumer
concerns
-increasingly the (easiest/cheapest/best) way to collect
feedback on products and service

61. Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty

62. Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early

63. Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/
communications possible

64. Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
Trust the Capn’n
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/
communications possible

65. Business Objective #2: Build Brand Loyalty
Trust the Capn’n
-cradle to grave consumers: get users in early
-get to them in every avenue of media/
communications possible
-God save us from Disney

66. Business Objective #3: You are on our team

67. Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!

68. Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!

69. Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone

70. Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone
-positive feedback loop: you are on our team, you
matter, buy more, you matter more

71. Business Objective #3: You are on our team
If I said: Less filling!
-build a sense of belonging; you are not alone
-positive feedback loop: you are on our team, you
matter, buy more, you matter more

72. Business Objective #4: Screw Big Business
This community stuff is empowering individuals

73. Business Objective #4: Screw Big Business
This community stuff is empowering individuals

74. Business Objective #4: Screw Big Business
This community stuff is empowering individuals

75. Business Objective #4: Screw Big Business
This community stuff is empowering individuals
-Power to the (entrepreneur) people!

76. Business Objective #4: Screw Big Business
This community stuff is empowering individuals
-Power to the (entrepreneur) people!
-Individuals, and individuals working together as a
shared voice, can focus and enact change like never
before

77. ...and thus, what could you laggards in government
do with all this “digital community” shizzle?

78. ...and thus, what could you laggards in government
do with all this “digital community” shizzle?

79. Gov’t objective: Distributing Info/Interacting with Public
-”Public online office hours” = Ways public can interact with gov officials
and learn more. Students don't come to office hours, its intimidating,
inconvenient, etc - same with public. Some don't want to go to hearings
or the office or a live Q&A, give them another option.
-Post answers where all can see it....why repeat yourself a thousand times?
-People (esp this generation) access info in different ways. Used to digital
information that they can get anytime and where (YouTube, Wikipedia,
Google Hangout)

80. Gov’t objective: Keeping Finger on the Pulse
Twitter: I'm sure they all have accounts - but if not get
on it! Use a program like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to
search for your town/county name so you know what
the conversation is about. Also use it to search locally
for tweets about certain pertinent topics. Are they
mentioning construction, or wondering why their trash
is not being picked up, etc.
Don’t just “push” information, Twitter can be a
discussion. Respond to those with issues.

82. ‘The community’ knows where citizens are talking/
complaining/voicing their concerns (Reddit, Craigslist)
-What are their main concerns?
-What are they ranting about?
-What are solutions others are proposing?
Gov’t objective: Keeping Finger on the Pulse

86. Gov’t objective: Crafting the narrative
-Control the narrative, before users’ narratives control you
-Enact a sunset on the “SUNRISE”
-Get your community to head off the trolls

87. But there is just one catch....

88. But there is just one catch....
You can’t actually “make” a community.

89. AND speaking of ‘catches’....
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...

90. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...

91. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it
can become.
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...

92. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it
can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...

93. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it
can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage
experimentation, and not condemn failure

94. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it
can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage
experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.

95. -It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it
can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
-It will all change tomorrow.
there are some things that need to be
recognized about this community ‘revolution’...
-Administration and support have to encourage
experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.

96. But this stuff is awesome!
Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas,
communicating curiosity,
communicating passion,
empowering individuals....

97. But this stuff is awesome!
Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas,
communicating curiosity,
communicating passion,
empowering individuals....
Isn’t that what teaching and
public service is really all about?

98. But this stuff is awesome!
Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas,
communicating curiosity,
communicating passion,
empowering individuals....
Isn’t that what teaching and
public service is really all about?
And everything I’ve talked
about is simply a
megaphone for
amplifying your voice

100. Technologies in society are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!

101. Technologies in society are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Citizens don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!

102. Technologies in society are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Citizens don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!
You don’t have to do it
alone:
HARNESS USER
KNOWLEDGE and
SKILLS!

103. A strong community is a potent force:
HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!
Technologies in society are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Citizens don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!
You don’t have to do it
alone:
HARNESS USER
KNOWLEDGE and
SKILLS!