Proposal Title
From Face-to-Face to Online: Less Transferring, More Transforming
Session Type
Presentation
Room
PAB 148
Start Date
11-7-2013 2:15 PM
Keywords
technology, teaching, online, active learning
Primary Threads
Education Technologies and Innovative Resources
Abstract
Online learning is changing education as we know it. According to Dr. Tony Bates, growth in online learning is expected to increase by 20 to 40 percent this year, and by 90 percent in the next five years. Bates sees this growth as being quickest and most in-depth in Canada. Furthermore, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has proposed a need to increase access through technology and innovation and stressed the need for new and flexible approaches to learning and teaching. The question now is: how? How are faculty supposed to meet the above demands?
The common response to this question has been to transfer current face-to face course materials into a Learning Management System (LMS). This is generally being done by the uploading of class resources such as PDFs of course readings or PowerPoint presentations used with lectures. Unfortunately, that is not an effective way to teach online. As well, this mere transference is also ignoring the opportunity to finally improve the way we teach.
I think when Dr. Bates asks "is there major room for improvement in how we teach?” he is encouraging us to consider improving our teaching through including more active learning techniques, more student engagement, more visual content, etc. The online learning environment is very conducive to these improvements. Rather than passively transferring current face-to-face course material to the online LMS, my presentation will offer faculty practical ideas and examples of how to actively transform their current course material so that it is effective in an online learning environment.
From Face-to-Face to Online: Less Transferring, More Transforming
PAB 148
Online learning is changing education as we know it. According to Dr. Tony Bates, growth in online learning is expected to increase by 20 to 40 percent this year, and by 90 percent in the next five years. Bates sees this growth as being quickest and most in-depth in Canada. Furthermore, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has proposed a need to increase access through technology and innovation and stressed the need for new and flexible approaches to learning and teaching. The question now is: how? How are faculty supposed to meet the above demands?
The common response to this question has been to transfer current face-to face course materials into a Learning Management System (LMS). This is generally being done by the uploading of class resources such as PDFs of course readings or PowerPoint presentations used with lectures. Unfortunately, that is not an effective way to teach online. As well, this mere transference is also ignoring the opportunity to finally improve the way we teach.
I think when Dr. Bates asks "is there major room for improvement in how we teach?” he is encouraging us to consider improving our teaching through including more active learning techniques, more student engagement, more visual content, etc. The online learning environment is very conducive to these improvements. Rather than passively transferring current face-to-face course material to the online LMS, my presentation will offer faculty practical ideas and examples of how to actively transform their current course material so that it is effective in an online learning environment.