December 4, 2018
Discussion boards in online courses are widely known to encourage higher-order thinking and reflection. However, text-based discussions may not be the best choice for all students or all learning outcomes. Student-created video is used increasingly in the form of video discussion boards. For example, instructors may have heard of Flipgrid, a popular video discussion software…
December 3, 2018
Discussion forums are commonly used in online courses because benefits are multiple. However, instructors and students may find it daunting to read tens or hundreds of posts. One way to make online discussions less overwhelming is to allow alternative means of expression. Instead of writing, students may be encouraged to use images, voice, and…
October 21, 2016
Screencasting refers to as a digitally recorded playback of computer screen output which often contains audio narration (Udell, 2005).
October 21, 2016
When the majority of instruction takes place in an online environment, it may offer more challenges for monitoring student learning and understanding of course content. Certain pedagogical techniques that combine theories and practices from face-to-face instruction can be infused in online teaching to help address these concerns and keep instruction engaging, rigorous, and responsive to…
October 21, 2016
It can be difficult to build a sense of community in an online course (Moskal et al., 2010), especially in mathematics where written work is usually somewhat limited. I find that regular class discussions provide a considerable benefit in this process. But the practice that has most effectively improved connections between students and between me…
October 20, 2016
It has been a challenge to engage students in large-enrollment classes, especially in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The larger the class size is, the less likely students will actively engage in class activities (Rocca, 2010). The lack of engagement creates information overload (Hewitt & Brett, 2007), which consequently resulted in student…
April 16, 2015
This strategy seeks to illustrate complicated engineering concepts and promote situated understanding through short and memorable multimedia videos.
April 16, 2015
Video self-modeling (VSM) is an effective and engaging method for strengthening a student’s reading and speaking fluency; it has been a popular tool used for decades to effectively improve individuals’ behaviors and skills (Prater, Carter, Hitchcock, & Dowrick, 2012). This activity provides students with an opportunity to watch and listen as they model a skill…
April 16, 2015
Using branching story lines within an interactive decision-making video is an engaging method of enhancing the learning process for digital natives.
April 9, 2015
Student generated video; have students create their own videos to illustrate course concepts or ideas. Share not only with other fellow students, but also with family and friends. Benefits: student-centered learning; motivation; anchored instruction Copyright concerns: Increase students’ awareness of intellectual property; cannot use whatever they can find online Learn about Fair use; educational &…