Distance Education and Online Learning – NAPCE Meri MacLeod, PhD Theological Educator & Director, Digital Seminarian

Interactive Technology & Education: the best focus Its about LEARNING! Engage students in different ways to deepen their learning Stimulate the creation of meaning Enhance the transfer of learning to real contexts, greater immediacy 3 M. MacLeod

The discussions my students have been having has been fantastic. One student remarked to me that he was learning as much through the 'community of learning' as in the classroom. I teach at 8:00 AM and it is like pulling teeth to get them to talk that early. However, grouptable has multiplied my creativity in teaching and I can see what they are thinking through that resource. I love how the 'quiet students' in class have time to think and process in the virtual classroom. Jason S. 4 M. MacLeod

How do you use interactive technology to enhance learning? Share a 1 minute snippet 5 M. MacLeod

Its Here and Expanding! 5 changes coming to education 1.Technology use that reduces the boundary between F2F and Online, and across platforms 2.Mobil – accessing anywhere - any time - easy 3.Creation (authoring) of multimedia –audio, video, photos, animation, etc 4.Learning through activity – simulated and real 6 M. MacLeod

Its Here and Expanding! 5 changes coming to education 5.Flexibility and variety is the new normal – standardized education of the 20 th century will give way to choices for students in how each moves through a course. Technology will provide students an approach that fits their way of learning; different activities to arrive at the same competence-based outcomes. 7 M. MacLeod

Unstoppable Drivers of Change Outcome assessment – demonstration of student learning Increase use of interactive technology by all ages in every part of the world (Pakistani child in flooded school) Research universities creating new technology geared towards learning (Sakai, ePortfolio) Vendors competing in the market 8 M. MacLeod

Thoughts? Implications? 9 M. MacLeod

As educators lets harness the best of interactive technology for increased student learning and enhanced relationships! 10 M. MacLeod

Guide for Choosing Residential or Online course? Residential illustrations – wiki post-on-seminary-things/ post-on-seminary-things/ Purpose – collaboration? Deepen understanding? Accessible tool? Support needed? 11 M. MacLeod

Plan for: Not all students will know how to use the technology, or how to use it for learning Not all will like the added activity (work) – some like it simple (lecture & test) Community space where the tech savvy can assist others 12 M. MacLeod

Plan for: IT support if the tech fails Backup assignment if a student has difficulty Students may need coaching on how to communicate and work together with respect Time – it will usually take more time than you think at first 13 M. MacLeod

Keeping a Course Fresh Listen to how students are using technology and brainstorm with them how it could be used for class. Example: how might a flip-cam assist students in demonstrating an assignment?Listen to how students are using technology and brainstorm with them how it could be used for class. Example: how might a flip-cam assist students in demonstrating an assignment? Read blogs and websites of creative educators outside of higher ed for ideas that can be easily modified for college, such as and blogs and websites of creative educators outside of higher ed for ideas that can be easily modified for college, such as and M. MacLeod

11 more suggestions at: resources/ 15 M. MacLeod