1. MOVING THE CLASSROOM ONLINE MOVING THE CLASSROOM ONLINE A Luddite’s Lessons Learned

2. Seventh Biennial International Business Institute for Community College Faculty

3. Mac McGuire Economics & Political Science Instructor Alpena Community College

4. What’s a Luddite? Luddites were craftsmen weavers in the early 1800s pre-industrial England who rebelled violently against the automation of their industry. History shows that they weren’t very successful at halting the progress of their generation – anymore than are modern-day Luddites who rebel against technology.

5. PROGRESS!

6. Computer Technologee  Just a few years ago, I – along with many (if not most) of my colleagues - rebelled against the intrusion of distance learning technology in education. Most concerns were about the quality. (But there was a lot of ego involved too.)

7. A Reformed Luddite

8. Top ten Reasons Why I Love Online 1.Education is available to more students 2.Shy students may blossom online 3.ESL students have time to respond 3.Preparation is enhanced 5.Relationships become more intimate 6.Instruction becomes more consistent 7.Everything is documented 8.Student participation is required 9.Scheduling conflicts disappear 10.Interruptions are only of our choosing

9. Good teachers are good teachers… –Analyze what you do to inspire learning in the classroom (I’ll bet it can be done online)  Pace  Lectures  Supplemental Readings  Text Readings  Web exploration  Videos  Individual Conferences  Discussions  Research Projects  Homework  Tests

10. Decide what learning elements are essential to a classroom and build them into your online course  Technology  Social  Research  Communications  Assessment  (and whatever else you feel is important)

11. Moving your classroom online has benefits but is not without challenges –Pacing is easier online because there are less time constraints. –Lectures can be found on almost any topic online. Use links. –Supplemental readings – even from current periodicals – can be found online. Use links or, where allowed, files. –Text readings are the same as in the classroom –Web research – scavenger hunts, quizzes, essays, etc. –Videos – Requires a server (and student computer capability)

12. Moving your classroom online has benefits but is not without challenges …continued  Individual conferences can be conducted as in the classroom – or via email!  Discussions are better online because students AND teachers have time to thoughtfully respond.  Research projects are great in the classroom – and great online, too.  Homework is better online – easier to read and grade.  Tests online are as useful (or useless) as they are in the classroom. (Cheating? It was invented in the classroom!)

13. Offer students stimulating DISCUSSION opportunities –Set up parameters! (No politics, etc) –Jump in to clarify or to keep it on course –Relate discussions to assigned readings –Require postings on multiple days –Define and post grading criteria. –Provide a forum for off-topic posts to avoid censorship and provide a safety valve. –Require scholarly references –Establish limits (Remember Marvin H!)

14. Whatever you do, don’t … –Create a correspondence course –Be uncommunicative –Be impatient or rigid –Become complacent –Compromise standards –Underestimate workloads –Be afraid to take risks –Stop having fun

15. “The times, they are a changing”

16. If I can HELP… Mac McGuire mcguireg@alpenacc.edu OR MacMcGuire@Triad.rr.com Alpena Community College Alpena, Michigan