The Positives of Online Learning

My next few posts will discuss some of the current positives in online learning.

According to Getting Online:The Go Project the following are positive indicators for online learning:

1. It is growing because of increased demand, low cost and flexibility.
2. There are always new and effective techniques for online learning and it continues to grow.
3. There is a good attitude and comfort with online learning.
4. Online learning helps support lifelong learning.
5. There is a growing need to share resources and practices in online learning.

My next post will discuss (1) the growth of online learning.

Video Tutorials

What kind of information can we pass on to students through a video tutorial?



Through a video tutorial we can show the students proper technique and practice while being engaged in the classroom.

We can present information on DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice), appropriate modeled behaviors, and children's behavior. After presenting the information we can then give video clips showing these examples in the classroom, also followed up with quizzes.

Information can be presented to students through videos as well.

A video tutorial can provide an orientation experience by showing the student important parts of the classroom and the school itself.

Below is an example of a tutorial I made for student teachers with power point. This tutorial will be more complete by adding videos in the content.

Tutorial

Curriculum

The CDRC-Children's Program follows the Creative Curriculum. It will be important for students to understand the basic developmental continuum's set forth by the Creative Curriculum.

Through a power point presentation the online training can cover the basic principles of the curriculum.

Here are the Creative Curriculum's goals and objectives at a glance.

Defining a Student

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the CDRC-Children's Program sees around 800 students come through it's doors a year. In this post I would like to define those students for you.

Observation Students- These are students whose role it is to observe certain children or a set of children from the observation booth with the intent to write a case study or just to take behavioral notes. These students usually do not com into contact with the children unless on the playground. These students would need an orientation and not necessarily a training before coming to CDRC.

Practicum Students- These students will do hands on activities and participate in classroom activities. These students will need a training before entering a classroom setting.

Work-Study- For the most part these students help classroom teachers and the office with paper work and hallway displays. These students are not normally in the classroom but may on occasion be asked to help out in a classroom. These student would need a training before entering a classroom.

Student Interns- Interns are very hands on with the children. Interns spend a majority of their time in the classroom teaching, helping the teachers, and participating in everyday activities. Interns would need a training before entering the classroom but will probably receive one in practicum.

Substitute Teachers- Like interns substitutes are very hands on in the classroom. Substitutes fill in for an absent teacher and take on the role of a teacher in the classroom. Substitutes will need a training before participating in the classroom setting.

Graduate Assistants- GA's are used throughout the center in many capacities from classroom work to running research projects. GA's should also go through a training before entering the classroom.

DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice)

Developmentally Appropriate Practice was popularized by NAEYC and refers to the practice of teaching and responding to children at their developmental level. For example, not all four year olds are on the same developmental level, therefore they should not be expected to be treated the same in all cases. The child is seen as an active learner and participant in the classroom. The teacher is the facilitator of the child's individual learning. DAP assures that teachers do not put too many or inappropriate expectations on a child so the child can learn at his/her own pace without being pushed too early. DAP also enables the child to be seen as an individual learner and to make learning more meaningful.

Sounds pretty simple right? Everyone should feel that way about teaching right? This is not always the case. It is very important to relay this information in our training tutorial to students. It is very easy to be of the mind set that all four year olds can write their name or all one years can walk. Some children's emotions are not quite as developed as others or one child may have excellent motor skills but lacks social skills. This is where the teacher would understand that this particular child may need more attention and help when participating in group setting and playing with other children. It is crucial for teachers and students to realize that not all children develop at the same pace.

This message can be relayed to students during the training by showing examples of teachers responding appropriately to children and modeling appropriate behaviors through videos. By demonstrating this practice to potential student teachers we will be able to prepare the teacher and ensure that the teacher has been properly trained to handle any situation in a developmentally appropriate manner.

University Research-Based School Setting

Having worked for both a university and an outside "regular" school, I understand the differences the two can have. It is important for our student to understand that being a part of a research-based program can be challenging and uncomfortable at times. The same can be said for a "regular" school but for the purposes of preparing a teacher training tutorial we are going to focus our attention on teaching in a university research-based school setting.

As a teacher in a university research-based program you are responsible for teaching the children in your classroom, college lab students, and interns. Being in this setting also means you have eyes on you all day...literally!! Every hour I can have up to 10 students observing my classroom from the observation booth. I also have up to 2 to 3 students doing hands on labs at a time. We also have a research observation booth with cameras and audio equipment for ongoing research projects. This can become overwhelming for new teachers in a classroom. Proper training can help alleviate some of the tension and anxiety that can come from "being watched".

Students who wish to be part of our program must realize as a student teacher, a substitute teacher and a graduate assistant you are held to the same standards as a regular classroom teacher and you are setting a standard, modeling appropriate behavior, and are a member of our team. All of the preceding can be demonstrated through video tutorials and power point presentations to ensure a student is ready to enter the classroom.

An online teacher training tutorial will help ensure students understand the appropriate behaviors policies and guidelines they should follow as a part of the CDRC-Children's Program.

My next post will be a discussion about helping students understand their roles and DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice).

Benefits of Training Online

Personally I believe that training online gives the trainer and trainee more flexibility. It is hard to get everyone in one place. Busy schedules and workloads provide for little extra time for training. Being online allows everyone involved the opportunity to do it on their own best time. With that being said, online training and learning also requires self-motivation and the will do get it done!

Blackboard.com provides a tip sheet for the educational benefits for online learning. One of the benefits mentioned is "providing 24/7 access to course materials". I like this because the best time for someone to log in and get involved may not be a great time for someone else.

I know as a teacher myself the last thing I want to do when I get off work is to have to and sit through a 2 hour training session. I believe the same goes for a college students. So an added benefit, according to Blackboard.com, is the "removal of reliance on physical attendance".

Another benefit, according to Blackboard.com, is "accommodating different learning styles". Through online training one can "go back" if they have missed something. For visual learners there is video tutorials and power point slides. For audio learners there is voice overs and guided messages over video. Where one student may take everything in at once, another student may prefer to absorb information in small chunks. Online learning provides for all different types of learning styles.

So the benefits of online learning appear to be (1.) flexibility for everyone involoved (2.) no need for physical attendance and (3.) accommodating of different learning styles. This wasn't mentioned in the articles but I personally believe accommodating for different teaching styles can also be a benefit for the instructors as well.