I have been having a look on the web for references to read for this course and i have found this site real valuable so i have saved it to my reference list.
http://members.shaw.ca/mdde615/index.htm
here are a few interesting ideas that i have read and found useful.
Key elements in communication
Many teachers new to online instruction believe that the opportunity to communicate with their students and the ability for students to engage in dialogue amongst themselves is reduced in the online environment. However, the reverse can actually be true. The opportunity for communication is greater than in the classroom because physical and temporal limitations vanish in the online classroom. Studies have shown that participation actually increases in well designed online settings. Shy students can be encouraged to participate in online discussions whereas they might never contribute in a classroom setting
Tips and strategiesBe clear and upfront about your expectations, while still being flexible enough to meet the needs of your students. Remember many adults are taking distance courses so that they can juggle family, work and educational pursuits. Humanize your content by focusing on your learners not on the mode of delivery. While online courses rely on computers and various technologies for many aspects of communication and delivery, the technology should always support your learning goals and your students.
This next article i read was very interesting and i thought about this for using blackboard
Encourage and insist upon participation by all students. Using a threaded discussion board is one means by which reluctant or shy students might feel comfortable contributing to online discussions. Start early with some sort of “ice-breaking”/getting used to the technology activity. This might, for example, take the form of brief biographical information posted to an introductory online conference or the design of individual web pages for posting to the course site. Make sure every student succeeds in this initial activity (you may need to email individual students to provide encouragement and assistance).
Links
http://members.shaw.ca/mdde615/links.htm
well i have been looking on the wiki that Rachel set up for us for our constructing course, and thanks rachel its great,only problem i am having now is that i have logged on and am looking for the comments i put on there the other day, and i really cant find them? I have been talking to Terry and he has clarified a few things for me, thanks Terry, I have been doing some readings on the Theoretical perspective of the course i am to construct, the learning outcomes, the initial task to clarify the nature of this course, how will this connect with other services, and now i am going to explore other courses to help me.
I am seriously looking at doing just an update of plain old Word or Excel for students who are just learning. dont know yet, but do know i need to get my thinking cap on shortly as Novemeber is not too far away.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are statements that specify what learners will know from the learning activity i am going to construct. This will usually happen from skills, attitude and knowledge of the course. Learning outcomes are provided by directional planning of the activity in the course. This will serve as a guide line to instruction, the content and the evaluation of the course. Know what specifically I want my students to learn and to know what should be accomplished.
There will need to be an education need, which is what students should do for themselves, for their employment, or just for social skills.
Who is my target audience
What is their level of learning
What are the most essential parts of the course that they will need to know or do
What skills do they need to know before being able to do the course
Will they be able to follow this knowledge on in their workplace, or home situation
What do they do with this once the course is finished
well it is now well into August and i have finally got the ok to finish this course, so i am a wee bit behind the black ball on being on track, so will have to work extra hard to get ahead. I have so many ideas and dont really know which one i am going to do to benefit, this course and my students, and the Otago Polytechic.
The course i have worked on through my previous design course is now on a Wiki which already explains a lot of the course i had in mind, whether this is benificial to me or not i am still working out. I will need to talk to Terry and Leigh and get some feed back i think.
I have made and account with Wiki and now will need to get myself organised.
will report in another day.
PS (I havnt put bronwyn and willie on this yet, may do later, watch the space!)
