Pat AnderchekPat Anderchek Nancy Brown Brunton Nancy Brown Brunton

Fall 2002Fall 2002

Pat AnderchekPat Anderchek Nancy Brown Brunton Nancy Brown Brunton

Fall 2002Fall 2002

The Community…The Community…

FRED siteFRED site

CYW websiteCYW website

Through the use of educational Through the use of educational technology we have developed an technology we have developed an

on-line collaborative learning on-line collaborative learning environment: ourenvironment: our

““virtual community”virtual community”

Funds for this project were initially Funds for this project were initially allocated through a 1999/2000 allocated through a 1999/2000 Academic Plan for projects related to Academic Plan for projects related to the development of alternative delivery the development of alternative delivery learning materials.learning materials.

We submitted a plan for the conversion We submitted a plan for the conversion of the Legislation Course from its of the Legislation Course from its existing format to Internet-based existing format to Internet-based delivery.delivery.

The ProjectThe Project

After initial exploration a decision was made to After initial exploration a decision was made to work with Andrew Connery, our Multimedia work with Andrew Connery, our Multimedia Developer to convert this course to a web-Developer to convert this course to a web-centric delivery using FirstClass and the Web.centric delivery using FirstClass and the Web.

This initial project has led to the development This initial project has led to the development of a vision for the CYW Program that uses of a vision for the CYW Program that uses education technology as a core component to education technology as a core component to program delivery.program delivery.

Stage 1Stage 1

From the beginning we saw that From the beginning we saw that there would be two main there would be two main components to the conversion:components to the conversion:

Our VisionOur Vision

1.1.The development of a The development of a website for program website for program

information and information and academic content academic content

delivery.delivery.

2.2.The integration of FirstClass The integration of FirstClass

(FRED), a distributed-(FRED), a distributed-learning environment and learning environment and communication system, to communication system, to

provide connectivity provide connectivity between faculty, students, between faculty, students,

and resources.and resources.

Our initial goal was to produce a Our initial goal was to produce a teaching/learning resource which teaching/learning resource which was:was:

•Accessible and easy to useAccessible and easy to use•Easy to navigateEasy to navigate•Visually rich Visually rich •An improvement on existing materialsAn improvement on existing materials

Our Our ObjectivesObjectives

•facilitate student learning and improve facilitate student learning and improve communication through the use of communication through the use of Education TechnologyEducation Technology

•continue to develop all areas of our continue to develop all areas of our “virtual community”“virtual community”

Our ObjectivesOur Objectives

Our ongoing objective is Our ongoing objective is to:to:

A second stage of the project was A second stage of the project was given approval and included the given approval and included the following:following:

•enhancement of the Legislation course enhancement of the Legislation course through increased integration of FirstClass’s through increased integration of FirstClass’s conferencing and communication featuresconferencing and communication features

•ongoing development of the CYW Program ongoing development of the CYW Program website, including course subsites containing website, including course subsites containing course outlines and academic content.course outlines and academic content.

Stage 2Stage 2

•creation of curriculum support materials creation of curriculum support materials including on-line videos, quizzes, and other including on-line videos, quizzes, and other course content.course content.

•community outreach projectscommunity outreach projects

•websites and FirstClass integration for all websites and FirstClass integration for all Human Service programs.Human Service programs.

Stage 3Stage 3The department made a strategic The department made a strategic decision to ensure on-going decision to ensure on-going development, and additional funding was development, and additional funding was provided through X-Centre projects. This provided through X-Centre projects. This led to:led to:

•continue to develop both web and FirstClass continue to develop both web and FirstClass sites to support our original goals of teaching, sites to support our original goals of teaching, learning, communication, and collaborationlearning, communication, and collaboration

•continue to increase openness and access to continue to increase openness and access to information for students, field supervisors, information for students, field supervisors, faculty, program applicants, and community faculty, program applicants, and community partnerspartners

•continue to develop original learning continue to develop original learning resources.resources.

Presently, we…Presently, we…

•co-ordinator & designerco-ordinator & designer•Chair and co-ordinatorChair and co-ordinator•co-ordinator & facultyco-ordinator & faculty•faculty & faculty (full & part-time)faculty & faculty (full & part-time)•students and facultystudents and faculty•co-ordinator & co-ordinatorco-ordinator & co-ordinator•co-ordinator & field supervisorsco-ordinator & field supervisors•faculty & field supervisorsfaculty & field supervisors•co-ordinator & other program facultyco-ordinator & other program faculty

Partnerships are KeyPartnerships are KeyWithout partnerships and team Without partnerships and team work nothing happens!work nothing happens!

TimeTime

Faculty interestFaculty interestDesign supportDesign support

Technology supportTechnology supportEquipmentEquipment

Faculty willingness to learn and implementFaculty willingness to learn and implementTimeTime

Required ResourcesRequired Resources

““A view to the future, breaking down A view to the future, breaking down barriers, celebrating relationships and barriers, celebrating relationships and

strengthening communities from sea to strengthening communities from sea to sea”…sea”…

is the basic premise for the use of is the basic premise for the use of education technology in our CYW education technology in our CYW

Program.Program.

CYW FREDCYW FREDCYW virtual communityCYW virtual community

CYW Website and ResourcesCYW Website and ResourcesHistory Module – History Module – template for all online template for all online

modulesmodules

Attending Skills- video Attending Skills- video Bullying- videoBullying- videoMaking Friends- audioMaking Friends- audioOn-line Quizzes On-line Quizzes Case StudiesCase Studies

What you will see…What you will see…

Questions?Questions?

Easier and quicker means of communication between Easier and quicker means of communication between staff/staff and staff/students.staff/staff and staff/students.

1:1 contact between staff and with a student that may 1:1 contact between staff and with a student that may be reluctant to ask questions in personbe reluctant to ask questions in person

Students can access overheads, class outlines prior to Students can access overheads, class outlines prior to scheduled class. Information always posted. scheduled class. Information always posted.

Supplements in-class activities through on line Supplements in-class activities through on line discussions and web links to interesting articles etc.discussions and web links to interesting articles etc.

Organization for both staff and students.Organization for both staff and students.

Top ReasonsTop Reasons (why faculty(why faculty likelike our virtual community)our virtual community)

Work from home.Work from home.

Allows quiet/introverted students opportunity to Allows quiet/introverted students opportunity to participate in on-line discussions.participate in on-line discussions.

Brings the CYW community closer together through Brings the CYW community closer together through ongoing messaging and chats.ongoing messaging and chats.

Top ReasonsTop Reasons (why faculty(why faculty likelike our virtual community)our virtual community)

Forum for students to help each Forum for students to help each other with studying.other with studying.

Students can use resource Students can use resource materials that are in other materials that are in other instructors class sites.instructors class sites.

The fact that we didn't need to attend class every week.The fact that we didn't need to attend class every week.

When ever I needed help, I could just post a question. When ever I needed help, I could just post a question.

The part that I enjoyed the most was the fact that the The part that I enjoyed the most was the fact that the course is very very flexible and takes alot of stress out of course is very very flexible and takes alot of stress out of the course.the course.

Easy to use.Easy to use.

Top ReasonsTop Reasons (why students(why students likelike our virtual community)our virtual community)

That it was on the internet!! I liked That it was on the internet!! I liked the flexibility of working on the the flexibility of working on the modules at home. modules at home.

At home you can be comfortable and At home you can be comfortable and you don't have classmates to distract you don't have classmates to distract you.you.

Slow dial up from home.Slow dial up from home. The biggest problem for me is that the faster I go The biggest problem for me is that the faster I go (learn) the behinder I get (so much new stuff to learn).(learn) the behinder I get (so much new stuff to learn).

Top ReasonsTop Reasons (why faculty(why faculty dislikedislike our virtual community)our virtual community)

Students that are reluctant to Students that are reluctant to utilize it and complain.utilize it and complain.

One of the drawbacks is that One of the drawbacks is that not all of the students use not all of the students use this tool so their learning is this tool so their learning is effected.effected.

The thing that I liked least was the flexibilty of the The thing that I liked least was the flexibilty of the course. I found out that I am not as disciplined as I course. I found out that I am not as disciplined as I should be. It has taught me something very important. should be. It has taught me something very important. I have never had a lower mark in any course, ever! In I have never had a lower mark in any course, ever! In my case, the flexibility was the best and worst part of my case, the flexibility was the best and worst part of the course. I am just happy that I know now that I will the course. I am just happy that I know now that I will need to be more disciplined.need to be more disciplined.

Top ReasonsTop Reasons (why students(why students dislikedislike our virtual community)our virtual community)

It's just not too much fun. I It's just not too much fun. I don't have time to sit on FRED don't have time to sit on FRED for hours at a time to actually for hours at a time to actually get all the stuff done.get all the stuff done.

Because I had to come into the Because I had to come into the school and use it.school and use it.

•Virtual community/communication toolVirtual community/communication tool•High accessibilityHigh accessibility•Connect to the world community of Child & Youth Care Connect to the world community of Child & Youth Care PracticePractice•Low publishing costLow publishing cost•Easy to change content/updatesEasy to change content/updates•Vocational Learning OutcomeVocational Learning Outcome•Easy media integrationEasy media integration•Encourages student involvement, feedbackEncourages student involvement, feedback•Flexibility of learningFlexibility of learning•Student responsibility for learningStudent responsibility for learning•Faculty learning and curriculum revisionFaculty learning and curriculum revision•Curriculum access/increased opennessCurriculum access/increased openness

Benefits Benefits (to using(to using education technologyeducation technology))

•requires technology access either at home or requires technology access either at home or collegecollege•numerous variations of resources, browsers numerous variations of resources, browsers etc.etc.•flexibility of learningflexibility of learning•student responsibility for learningstudent responsibility for learning•faculty learning faculty learning •curriculum accesscurriculum access•time time •resourcesresources

Drawbacks Drawbacks (to using(to using education technologyeducation technology))

ResourcesResources

Learning curveLearning curveOverzealousnessOverzealousness

Time-intensive process Time-intensive process Maintenance- ongoing support

Fear/visionFear/vision

Challenges Challenges

A view to the future, breaking down A view to the future, breaking down

barriers, celebrating relationships and barriers, celebrating relationships and strengthening communities from sea to strengthening communities from sea to

sea- through our online Learning sea- through our online Learning Environment.Environment.

This presentation was developed in October 2002 at Mohawk College

This presentation was developed in October 2002 at Mohawk College

Content: Pat Anderchek

Artwork and Construction: Andrew Connery

Content: Pat Anderchek

Artwork and Construction: Andrew Connery