IM 646 Week 2 Teaching Lesson Plan

November 30-Dec.5, 2009

Learner/Student in Distance Education

This is the lesson plan from the second teaching group. Please pay attention to this lesson plan. If
you have questions after reading it, please feel free to contact the facilitator assigned to that date.
Instructor Contacts:

Ryan Cox Mary Kunesh-Podein May (Jiangmei Yuan)

rlcox@stcloudstate.edu kuma0701@stcloudstate.edu yuji0801@stcloudstate.edu

Skype ID: rlcox7774 Skype ID: mplspodein Skype ID: yuanjiangmei

Focus:

It is our goal to allow learners a full understanding of collaborative learning and the role that
student characteristics play in the success or failure of online learning.

Objectives:

By the end of this week, students will be able to...

• describe benefits to use online tools for student collaboration.

• identify obstacles to collaboration that facilitators may face when directing an online
course.
• prepare a plan of action for various teaching situations using collaboration techniques.
• understand theories regarding collaboration in online learning.
Course Topics:
• Theories on collaboration in online learning.
• Learning styles, culture and collaboration.
• Online tools and collaboration.
Readings
Please see D2L Content Week 12 (Group 2 Teaching) for links to readings. Students can also go
to “readings” on weebly for the links. Students are required to read the articles on collaboration
in online learning. After reading the articles, students are required to participate in discussions on
weebly.
Buchanan, J., Wilson, S. T. & Gopal, N. (2008). A cross cultural virtual learning environment for

students to explore the issue of racism: a case study involving the UK, USA and SA.

Social Work Education, 27(8), 671-682.

Ke, F. & Carr-Chellman, A. (2006). Solitary learner in online collaborative learning: A

disappointing experience? The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 7 (3), 249-265

Tryon, P. J. S. & Bishop, M. J. (2009). Theoretical foundations for enhancing social

connectedness in online learning environments. Distance Education, 30 (3), 291-315.

Wise A. F., Padmanabhan P. & Duffy, T. M. (2009). Connecting online learners with diverse

local practices: the design of effective common reference points for conversation.

Distance Education, 30 (3), 317-338

Prior to the Lesson

1. Students should create an avatar following the directions at the following link:

http://im646.weebly.com/avatar-directions.html
2. Please go to http://scsuim646.pbworks.com/Collaboration-and-Online-Learning to
complete for yourself the K (Know) and W (Want to Know) BEFORE reading the
articles. Please provide initials after each comments in case we need to go back to refer
the comments on Wednesday night. Due Wednesday, November 25th at
11:59 p.m.
 3. Readings are located at http://im646.weebly.com/readings.html Please read them before
class.

Tools and Their Usage:

 Weebly: http://im646.weebly.com

• Weebly is the main tool that will be used.

• Directions as to how to create an avatar on voki is under “voki avatars”.
• Links to readings are in D2L as well as under “readings” on weebly.
• Do threaded discussions under “threaded discussions” on weebly. Please respond to each
topic and post a minimum of 2 responses to classmates by Tuesday, Dec.1.
• Post your questions about technology under “threaded discussions” on weebly. After you
click on “threaded discussions”, you see a page with “class discussions” and “technology
concerns”. Please respond to each Discussion Topic (3) and post a minimum of 2 responses to
classmates. This should be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1st.
• Do end of course survey under “survey” on weebly.

 Voki: http://www.voki.com/

• Voki will be used for online discussions on Wednesday night. Students can type or speak.
• Students need to create an avatar and introduce themselves by following the instructions
under “avatar directions” on weebly. This should be completed by Monday,
November 30th by 11:59 p.m.

 Wiki: http://scsuim646.pbworks.com

KWL (What we Know, What we Want to know, What we have Learned) chart will be
posted on wiki. Please fill out the K and W BEFORE you read the articles. Due
Wednesday, November 25th at 11:59 p.m.
L of KWL chart is Due Friday, Dec.4 at 11:59 p.m.

 Etherpad:
Etherpad will be used on Wednesday night discussion.

 Elluminate: http://www.elluminate.com/
 Elluminate will be used for our Wednesday night discussion.

 Twitter: http://twitter.com/

Post what you have learned in the week on twitter.

Wednesday Night Activities

Mary (8:10-9:00 p.m.)

• Introduction of topic
• Overview of Wednesday session
• Initiate KWL chart
• Move students to the Weebly site for next activity.
• Students see a Video - Wiki in Plain English
• Students create a list of how wikis can be used by
○ Educators
○ Business Professionals
○ Students

Ryan (9:10-10:00 p.m.)

Online discussion of topics using Voki Avatars
Respond to each of the three (3) questions using their avatars (text response) -
15 minutes
Respond to other classmates thoughts or ideas (voice response) - 15
minutes

Class Discussion on Elluminate - 20 minutes

• Thoughts or opinions about using avatars for class discussion
• How could using avatars help learners who are...
○ more individual learners
○ diverse learners
○ learners with multiple learning styles
• What are obstacles that a facilitator may face using avatars for...
○ education
 ○ business
Notes will be taken on the class wiki with various students adding their input.

May (10:10-11:00)
Students address scenarios - What would could/would you do if you are a facilitator of an online
class?
○ Your class has students from all over the world.
○ Your class is mostly undergraduate first or second year students struggling to become
acclimated to collage life. This is their first online course and not used to self-scheduling
events and learning.
○ Your students are predominately low income learners with little or no stable technology.
○ You have 2-3 students who are wondering if they can just work by themselves - and not
collaborate with other students.

Break up into groups and meet on Skype to collaborate on a plan to address the above situations.

○ Groups will be collaborating to create a plan on etherpad (we will create etherpad in
advance) (20 minutes)
○ Groups will also need to review other plans - edit their ideas and leave a comment about
what and why they made the changes they did (15 minutes).
○ Group Conversation on Elluminate
What are some different ways to address the above scenarios?
What role do you see collaboration taking for online learning with both students and
facilitators?

Lesson Feedback

• End of Course Survey created by Teaching Group 2. It will be posted on weebly.

• Survey created by Plamen on D2L.
• Twitter: Post what you have learned in the week on twitter.