Online Courses in Info. Lit; Blogs & Wikis; and Open Educational Resources

[DaveFontaine]

I've been lucky enough to teach some online courses for the University of Rhode Island.  They are all about promoting Info. Lit. in the classrooms.  I've taken a cut in pay so that you can get tuition at 1/6th the cost of the regular tuition rates, so feel free to contact if you have any other questions. [e-mail]

Here are some of the details attached.

Dave Fontaine

Hi All,

This is a LAST CALL message for enrollment into our THREE Education online
internet course offerings. I have received much email about taking an online
course and so I have put together a small question and answer response about
online courses posted below.

The last day to register for these classes is tomorrow FRIDAY, JAN 29. All
classes will begin on February 1, 2010 providing that we meet the minimum
enrollment required. All of these classes are taught by Dave Fontaine, NBCT
and the registration fee for each class is $550.00 or $585.00 (includes a
onetime transcript fee if you have never taken a class at URI before).

These classes do not appear on the URI regular list of class offerings since
they are only open to teachers and offered only through the School of
Education. To register, send an email request to [e-mail] for an
e-registration form.

The THREE asynchronous online courses being offered are:

Using The Internet for Teaching, Learning and Practical Applications

Using Blogs & Wikis to Foster Literacy

Online Texts & Open Educational Resources



Q & A about taking an online course:

 Why should I take an online course?

Consider these reasons for taking an online course which can be a great
option for all kinds of people:

1)     Online classes allow for greater flexibility in your daily and
monthly schedule. You can always participate in the class if you need to
leave town.

2)     Online classes save gas/travel time.

3)     Online classes provide an opportunity for you to interact with folks
from many different locations within your community, across the country or
out of the country.

4)     Online classes are "GREEN"! Online classes have posted resources and
notes available on the website; you can choose to print hard copies or not.


5)     Online classes save money.  You won't need to buy textbooks,
notebooks, pens, pencils, etc because you'll be able to access this
information online and download much to your computer.

6)     Online classes offer more interaction with fellow classmates. Not
only do you know who everyone in the class is but throughout the semester
you will discuss several topics with all your classmates.



What are some of the things I can expect to experience in an online class?

Two parallel processes take place in an online environment:

1. Students become more active, reflective learners.

2. Students and teachers engage in learning through the use of technology
and become more familiar with

   technology by using it.



 Approaches to Online Learning

Two approaches to online learning have emerged: synchronous and asynchronous
learning.

Synchronous learning is instruction and collaboration in "real time" via the
Internet. It typically involves tools, such as:

. live chat

. audio and video conferencing

. data and application sharing

. shared whiteboard

. virtual "hand raising"

. joint viewing of multimedia presentations and online slide shows



Asynchronous learning methods use the time-delayed capabilities of the
Internet.

It typically involves tools, such as:

. e-mail

. threaded discussion-in threaded discussions students may post responses to
a prompt at any time. Threaded

 discussions allow students to work at their own pace, allow the teacher to
respond more thoughtfully since all the

 responses are not posted simultaneously, and are easier to coordinate than
expecting all students to be online at the

 same time.

. newsgroups and bulletin boards

. file attachments



Asynchronous courses are still instructor-facilitated but are not conducted
in real time, which means that students and teacher can engage in
course-related activities at their convenience rather than during
specifically coordinated class sessions. In asynchronous courses, learning
does not need to be scheduled in the same way as synchronous learning,
allowing students and instructors the benefits of anytime, anywhere
learning.



Advantages of Online Learning

Online learning offers a variety of educational opportunities:

Student-centered learning: The variety of online tools draws on individual
learning styles and help students become more versatile learners.

Collaborative learning: Online group work allows students to become more
active participants in the learning process. Contributing input requires
that students comprehend what is being discussed, organize their thinking
coherently, and express that thinking with carefully constructed language.

Easy access to global resources: Students can easily access online databases
and subject experts.

Experiential learning through multimedia presentations: New technologies can
be used to engage and motivate students. Technology can also be used to
support students in their learning activities.

Accessible for non-traditional students: Online delivery of programs and
courses makes participation possible for students who experience geographic
and time barriers in gaining access to higher education.