Web Based Learning Tools Grades K -12 Webpage for WBLTs faculty.uoit.ca/kay/te2009/wblt Canada Robin Kay Associate Professor, Faculty of Education Homepage: faculty.uoit.ca/kay

Background Faculty of Education Math & Computer Science UOIT – 5 years Taught High School 8 years Community College for 5 years

And you … What grade do you teach? a)K-3 b)4-6 c)7-8 d)9-12

What subject do you teach? a)Math b)English c)Science d)Social Science e)Languages f)Other

Please describe your computer confidence level? a)Not at all confident b)Somewhat confident c)Confident d)Very Confident

Have you used Web- Based Learning Tools (WBLTs)? a)Student-Led b)Teacher-Led c)I don’t know d)No

Agenda What is a WBLT? Why use WBLTs? Choosing WBLTs? Using WBLTs? What the research says?

Web Based Learning Tools Explore Learning  Add & Subtract IntegersAdd & Subtract Integers BBC  French – Listening FoundationFrench – Listening Foundation Alberta Online  TrianglesTriangles Illuminations  Map of CanadaMap of Canada Mini Clips **  Converting percent to decimal Converting percent to decimal

Barriers to Using Technology? a)Accessibility b)Training c)Time d)Equipment e)Money f)Quality of software

Why use a WBLT? Easy access Small web based program Easy to learn and use Web-Based Typically Free Motivating Interactive Graphics & Animation Potential Barriers a)Accessibility b)Training c)Time d)Equipment e)Money f)Quality of software

Choosing a WBLT What is a good WBLT? Where do you find WBLTs?

Features of Good WBLTs 1.Loads quickly 2.Easy to learn and use (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 3.Navigation easy (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 4.Limited writing (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 5.Theme & quality (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 6.Graphics or animations (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 7.Support materials (Bad vs. Good)BadGood 8. Interactivity (Low vs. High)LowHigh 9.Accuracy 10. WBLT adds value

Where do you find WBLTs? Math Explore Learning (K-12)Explore Learning Learn Alberta (K-12)Learn Alberta NCTM Illuminations (K-12)NCTM Illuminations BBC (K-10)BBC UOIT (7-10)UOIT Interactivate (3-12)Interactivate Science Explore Learning (K-12)Explore Learning Learn Alberta (K-12)Learn Alberta BBC (K-10)BBC UOIT (7-10)UOIT English Learn Alberta (K-12)Learn Alberta BBC Multiple Subjects Learn Alberta (K-12)Learn Alberta BBC Interactive Websites EDNA

Using a WBLT Does it work? Timing – How long? Introduction to WBLT Individuals vs. Pairs vs. Class How will you use it? Introduce topic Follow-up activity Explore concept Time reminders Circulation Guiding Questions Consolidation

What does the research say? 1100 middle & high school students 64 classrooms WBLTs

Student Computer Skills? Item % Agree I am good at working with computers. 81% I am comfortable with computers. 85% I like working with computers at school. 76%

WBLT Quality? Item % Agree 1. The WBLT was well organized. 68% 2. The WBLT was easy to use. 77% 3. The instructions in the WBLT were easy to follow. 74%

Learning Performance? Target Group Change Middle School+ 40% High School+ 30% Math – High School+ 8% Science – High School+ 40%

Strategies? Effective Introduce a new concept before a formal lesson Motivate students Teach a new concept Guiding set of questions No So Effective Use after formal lesson Open ended-exploration

What the Students Said? Easy to Use It was nice and simple The instructions were easy to follow Visual Aspects I liked the graphics & animations This way it's easier for me to learn because I am a visual learner Using Technology – Something New I liked the idea of the WBLT, and I think learning through technology is useful I liked how it was on the computer, because it grabs my attention better than the teacher or a book It beats writing a page of notes Interactive I liked how it was interactive Motivating I like the fact it put some fun into learning

What the teachers said? Overall, very satisfied but … It took a long time to find good WBLTs It took a long time to prepare a lesson plan It wasn’t easy getting a computer lab (3-4 weeks)

What Next? Handout WBLT Web Page Online presentations Handouts Links to good WBLTs Sign up for WBLT training Research project (next year) Free training (1.5 days) Survey teachers & students

Contact Information Robin Kay Web Page faculty.uoit.ca/kay

Would you use WBLTs in your class? a)No b)Maybe c)Yes

Difficult to Learn

Easy to Learn

Awkward to Navigate

Good to Navigate

Too Much Writing

Appropriate Writing

Boring Theme

Interesting Theme

Limited Graphics

Helpful Graphics

Limited Resource

Better Resource

Limited Interaction

Better Interaction