Applying the term "inclusion" means providing learning opportunities and assessment forms to meet many different learning styles. This is an important change I need to make so that all learners can be successful in my courses.
To understand the different learning styles will be instrumental in creating a course that encourages every student in learning how to learn for oneself. I believe this is the key to providing the dynamic course students are looking for in an online program.
The diagram outlining the constant flow of information between student and teacher was excellent. It illustrates the partnership between faculty and student to ensure active learning.
Today's student must be engaged and find relevance and what they are learning. The techology and the platforms that instructors have now will help ot keep the modern student focused and productive.
The various tools that are available to students now, such as multiple mobile connections, will make it easier for students to access course material anywhere at anytime that they want to. Instructors should be facilitators and help students on their coursework. There are also diversities among student populations, and instructors should be aware of those different learning styles, and apply the various online tools that are available to everyone.
This is very useful and an important reminder to always custimize learning (even during virtual teaching when it's easier to do a "one size fits all" lesson).
Basic information on the various learning types and what is needed for them to be successful
Ok Folks,
There is a value to the linear model. Blocks of subject knowledge are completed without gaps, so the completeness of instruction is assured. This model, where multiple inputs are attempted to be coordinated into a cohesive whole, without knowledge gaps, is alluring but likely to fail. This due to the overly complex task of coordination and individual assessments. You want to volunteer for 4 times the work, for a marginally 'better' learning environment? Nah, not until the tech is advanced to the point of reasonable effort.
In the meantime, I require about twenty pages of reading each week, with in-class discussion and online discussion. Two weeks later, the lecture covers the same reading, with more discussion and a page of written commentary. Is this what you mean? Regardless, this is my methodology, and it will continue until I see something demonstrably better with the same effort on my part.
I have learnt that e-learning environments can be beneficial in terms of dictating the requirements of being successful within different learning courses.
I found the following excerpt from the reading to be the most valuable:
"One of the greatest challenges in most courses is in the area of assessment. Granted, many courses of study are geared towards some form of certification that requires standardized testing, but that should be the starting point, not the summation of the production of learning."
Instructors sometimes struggle with what learning outcomes should consist of, but starting at the end makes such sense to me.
Considering that customization is the best way to reach all types of learners it is important to understand the need to offer information and accept input in various ways. Allowing student input to be diverse can result in better outcomes.
I am excited about using these strategies in my class. I also feel better about teaching the different learning types.
Hybrid Schools / Blended Learning Classes are an important part of education in today's society. These classes offer flexability, unlike traditional schools.
I have attended a Traditional School and Hybrid Schools / Blended Learning. The Traditional School was great when I was a teenagers to young adult, but as the years past and I decided to go back to school, the Traditional Classes were NOT an option for me, having a career, wife, child, house, etc. I had to seek other options. Hybrid Schools / Blended Learning Classes gave me the oppotunity to not only go back to school, but it helped me get my Master's Degree and work at my own pace and time. I went to class two days a week, one for each class, and the rest was online. Hybrid Schools / Blended Learning Classes made getting a Master's Degree possible.
I find, as a Dean, this is the case for 99% of my students in their continued education. My students wouldn't be able to attend school without it being Hybrid Schools / Blended Learning.
The discussions helped to understand the significance of multi-input connections and open ended output. It was interesting to learn about wireless mobile devices, taking notes, and use of smartboard. These modes modes of learning helps the nomadic learners. Also it was intersting to learn how left and right brain hemispheres can influence the type of learning. With left hemisphere dominance an individual prefers logical, nalytical, and organized learning. On the otherhand, with the right hemisphere dominance the individual prefers kinesthetic, sensory, or visula holistic learning
Many of the concepts apply to ground as well as online courses.
The most important take away is to provide the students with the opportunity to take in the content in a variety of ways. Additionally, provide learning opportunities that speak to the various learning preferences. Use various assessments to capture what students know.
To a large extent, this section reinforces what has been a point of focus in education for quite a long time, that is the accommodation of learning styles. However, this application is now in a mediated environment. When learning style accommodation was suggested years ago the resistest may have been primarily philosophical but presently in the mediated environment that challenges may be primarily pragmatic. Time, tools, and expertise have to be addressed if online educators are going to provide an array of learning options.
People are different, as we know, and have as many different ways of demonstrating intelligence. This presents yet another challenge for the teacher. By being creative and flexible in your instructional design and holistic in your assessment methods, you will be more likely to address more intelligences that are present in your classroom.
The lesson on Maximizing content provided examples and information on how to instruct and rely information to various learners by using multiple methods (visual, Auditory, etc).
When working with a blended course, a single, set assessment may not capture every student's learning. Consider an open ended option that gives them opportunities to apply their knowledge. This is one byproduct of customized learning.
