Asynchronous online discussion: Instructor facilitation vs. peer facilitation

Asynchronous online discussion forums have been widely used in schools and universities. They form an integral part of e-learning and blended learning. Many researchers and educators use asynchronous online discussion activity to develop student thinking skills, problem solving skills, and others. There are many factors that may affect student participation in asynchronous online discussion forums such as discussion topics, group size, ground rules of the discussion forums, facilitation skills, and others. We believe that facilitators play an important role in the success of asynchronous online discussion. Usually instructors or students serve as facilitators for online discussion activities. In this study, we explore participants" preference in terms of facilitator (instructor facilitator vs. peer facilitator). In addition, we also found out the reasons for their preference. © 2010 Wing Sum Cheung & Khe Foon Hew.published_or_final_versio

Design and evaluation of two blended learning approaches: Lessons learned

In this paper, we share two blended learning approaches used at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. We have been using these two approaches in the last twelve years in many courses ranging from the diploma to graduate programs. For the first blended learning approach, we integrated one asynchronous communication tool with face to face tutorials, classroom discussions, and a reflection session. For the second blended learning approach, we integrated two asynchronous tools with face to face tutorials in a course. We discuss the theoretical foundation of the two blended learning approaches. In addition, we share insights from these two blended learning approaches, based on the students' data (online postings, questionnaires, reflection logs, and interviews), as well as our own reflections. Finally, we describe and discuss several important lessons learned that could inform the design of future instructional strategies in implementing blended learning in university teaching and learning settings.published_or_final_versio

Examining facilitators' habits of mind in an asynchronous online discussion environment: A two cases study

Asynchronous online discussion has been widely used by faculty members and students in schools and universities. Previous research has examined how factors such as the discussion activity, knowledge about the discussion topic, and the behaviour of other participants can affect learner participation. This study explored student facilitators' influence in promoting learners' participation in terms of their exhibited habits of mind. The following habits of mind of the facilitators were examined: (a) awareness of own thinking, (b) accurate and seeks accuracy, (c) open minded, (d) taking a position when the situation warrants it, and (e) sensitive to other. A two-cases study methodology approach was used in this study. The habits of "awareness of own thinking" and "open minded" were found to be exhibited more often by the student facilitators in the two cases. When we zoomed into the top 30% of the forums in terms of learners' participation, we also found that the frequency of habits of mind, "awareness of own thinking" and "open minded", were exhibited more often by the facilitators.published_or_final_versio

Transforming pre-service teacher curriculum: observation through a TPACK lens

This paper will discuss an international online collaborative learning experience through the lens of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. The teacher knowledge required to effectively provide transformative learning experiences for 21st century learners in a digital world is complex, situated and changing. The discussion looks beyond the opportunity for knowledge development of content, pedagogy and technology as components of TPACK towards the interaction between those three components. Implications for practice are also discussed. In today’s technology infused classrooms it is within the realms of teacher educators, practising teaching and pre-service teachers explore and address effective practices using technology to enhance learning

Teaching and learning in virtual worlds: is it worth the effort?

Educators have been quick to spot the enormous potential afforded by virtual worlds for situated and authentic learning, practising tasks with potentially serious consequences in the real world and for bringing geographically dispersed faculty and students together in the same space (Gee, 2007; Johnson and Levine, 2008). Though this potential has largely been realised, it generally isn’t without cost in terms of lack of institutional buy-in, steep learning curves for all participants, and lack of a sound theoretical framework to support learning activities (Campbell, 2009; Cheal, 2007; Kluge & Riley, 2008). This symposium will explore the affordances and issues associated with teaching and learning in virtual worlds, all the time considering the question: is it worth the effort

THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLENDED LEARNING BASED ON HANDPHONE FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM SUBJECT ON XI GRADE OF SMKN 1 BENGKULU CITY

Purpose of Study: Education has an important role to improve the quality of human resources that made the younger generations could develop their potential optimally. Vocational High School (SMK) is one of the educational institutions that has prepared their graduates to enter the working world. One of the compulsory programs in Vocational High School is the students were carried out on the fieldwork practices (PKL). To provide learning access for students as long as they stayed in the industry area, so it was necessary to give learning on blended learning by using handphone as a learning media. In order to get students’ learning outcomes be maximized, so the development of this learning should be done by applying Research and Development patterns that were adapted from The Steps of System Approach Model of Educational Research and Development (R & D), Fourth Edition and Seventh Edition by Borg and Gall. Blended learning models that would be developed are Norman Vaughan and Flipped Classroom Models. Learning materials were developed are computer system subject. The measurement of result development was done by the formative evaluation that consisted of one to one evaluation with expert, one to one evaluation with learner, small group and field trial. Methodology: The methodology that was conducted is stages of learning model adopted from Model of The Steps of System Approach Model of Educational Reseach and Development (R & D), Fourth Edition and Seventh Edition by Borg and Gall. The blended learning model that will be developed is the Norman Vaughan model and Flipped Classroom Model. (Helena Gillespie et.all, 2007) Results: Stages of learning model development that was adopted from Model of The Steps of System Approach Model of Educational Reseach and Development (R & D), Fourth Edition and Seventh Edition by Borg and Gall. The blended Vaughan model and Flipped Classroom Model. Stages of development process as follows:1) Data and Information Collecting, 2) Identity Instructional Goal, 3) Conduct instructional Analyze, 4) Analyze Learners and Contexts, 5) Write Performance Objectives, 6) Develop AssessmentInstrument, 7) Develop Instructional Strategy, 8 Develop and Select Instructional Materials, 9) Revise Instruction, 10) Design and Conduct Formative Evaluation of Instruction (Gall et all). Implications/Applications: Development of blended learning based on handphone was appropriate to be used in learning at XI grade of SMK. It was caused that students of XI grade have followed the practice of field work for about 3 months, as long as the students followed the practice of fieldwork, it meant that the learning process was still being applied by using handphone media and learning outcomes showed that there was an improvement in learning outcomes

Dynamics of Blended Learning in the Covid-19 Pandemic in Integrated Islamic Education Institutions

Blended learning is an approach that integrates e-learning methods with traditional methods (face-to-face interactions) simultaneously at certain periods. This study elaborates on the dynamics of blended learning implementation during the Covid-19 pandemic at SD IT Fauziah Yarsi Mataram, an integrated Islamic education institution in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The research method used is a qualitative research method in which the researcher was a key instrument in conducting interviews, field observations and reviewing documentation related to implementing blended learning in schools. The results of this study show that during the Covid-19 pandemic, SD IT Fauziah Yarsi Mataram implemented blended learning limited to the subjects of Qur'an, Hadith, and Fiqh. At the same time, the instruction of general material subjects such as mathematics, languages, and social studies was carried out using e-learning methods. The applied blended learning involved the components of collaboration, online content, and assessment intended to increase students' motivation and learning outcomes and overcome the psychological problems faced by the students during the pandemic. The application of blended learning in Qur'an, Hadith, and Fiqh manifested the school's vision and mission and considering that these subjects are part of the school's prime programs

Implementing the "Wiki Way" in a course in higher education

Self-organised collaborative wiki work is reality in today’s businesses and students have to be prepared for the resulting requirements. Therefore, the aim of our paper is to demonstrate and to evaluate a way to practice self-organised and loosely coordinated wiki work in higher education. We simulate a common enterprise 2.0 collaboration situation to convey competences in a graduate-level classroom and identify challenges in this context following action research principles. We conclude with a series of insights that help higher education teachers to overcome organisational barriers and provide technical requirements for wiki software engineering

Charting a new course for translator and interpreter training in Africa: Lessons from the COVID-19 experience in selected countries

Translator and interpreter (T&I) training, using virtual learning environments, was largely uninterrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the Global North. This might not have been the case in the Global South, especially in African countries. Building on earlier studies which focused on a comparative analysis of a number of T&I programmes in Africa, the objective of this paper is to further investigate the T&I training situation in a number of African countries between the pre-COVID-19 (before March 2020) and the initial lockdown (March - September 2020) period. Online questionnaires were administered to T&I students and trainers in five countries: Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. The data collected were analysed qualitatively. Our preliminary findings, although not surprisingly, reveal that T&I training was interrupted by the lockdown and the attempted transition to online teaching and learning has not been smooth, due to economic challenges, insufficient technological infrastructure and skilled human resources. We find that the provision of reliable technological facilities and the implementation of blended learning are essential for strategic development in African T&I training. Trainers also require continuous professional development to enable them to acquire technological and pedagogical skills necessary to provide training that meets current T&I market demands.publishedVersio