The choice of resources for a VLE

Having done some research on how to use digital technology within the schemes of work I have prepared for the VLE I came across this interesting video. It gave me a lot of food for thought, how do I decide which resources I put on the VLE? Firstly I went back to session planning, just like with face to face teaching, I felt it was important to have a plan of what I wanted each student to get out from each tab (session) and then I was able to implement relevant resources. Conrad and Donaldson (2004) discuss how the collaborative attainment of knowledge between the student and the teacher is one of the keys to the success of an online learning environment. Thus activities should encourage interactivity and promote the sharing of ideas on a deeper level. This again brings me back the question of what resources should I use upon my own VLE.

So I compared the sessions I have planned on the VLE to the ones I taught face to face and most of the resources could be adapted. The use of Power Points to frame the sessions could easily cross over to the VLE, I simple added audio and spoke to the audience as I would have in any session. I could also provide reflective exercises which had been developed for the use in seminars (face to face), again by adding audio and speaking to the students on a chalk and talk teaching method. But this is not Blended learning, I needed to think outside of the box so I could provide that collaborative environment which is key to learning. Another issue I am faced with, is how to I has the educator asses the IT skills of those using the VLE, do I assume they all have good, current skills or do I assume they are all novices? The answer to this question directly affects the types of resources I display for the students.

I view the VLE as a online classroom and has such a community (of sort), any community holds shared goals and in regards to the VLE I am creating the shared goal would be learning. so I felt it was important to place some shared goals and objectives upon the VLE and leave a space for the students to add their own,  thus empowering the students to become responsible  for their own learning. Giving the students the sense of "we are all in this together" provides a starting point for the collaboration which is required for their learning success (Paloff &Pratt, 2007).  I don't want my VLE to be a static place where I dump stuff and hope people see it. I must think long and hard about how to get the students to interact and collaborate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So back to the reflexive exercises, I wanted a way to get the students to complete each session and exercise and then have the opportunity to connect with each other and myself in regards to the material covered. I felt using platforms such as Facebook and twitter and Google plus would be successful ways to open the channels of communication and so linked these to the VLE. I did however also add some ground or housekeeping rules for the use of these Social media sites within the VLE.  

 

The students have therefore been given even more opportunity to interact and improve the learning outcomes. I feel knowledge is activated was the student engages with the class and not just an interaction between the materials and self.

 

references

 

Conrad, R. &. D. L., 2004. Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction. San Francisco: Wiley.

 

 

 

 

Paloff, R. &. P. K., 2007. Building Online Learning. 2nd ed. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons,.