1. Web-Based Courses Web-Based Courses: An Overview BYTE Conference February 26, 2010 Howard Griffith Donald Girouard

2. Who Are We – Introductions Howard Griffith – eLearning Development Consultant, Manitoba Education Donald Girouard – Consultant for Distance Learning WBC, Manitoba Education

3. Distance Learning Delivery Models Face-to-face (f2f) teaching ITV or Web Conferencing  2-way video and audio Web-based Course Option Independent Study Option Best models tend to use blended approaches F2FISOWBC more student - student and student - teacher interaction less ITV

4. What is “Distributed Learning“? Using a variety of course delivery methods available to schools and students Using several schools to deliver and share WBC Using a wide range of information technologies to provide learning opportunities beyond the bounds of the traditional classroom In Manitoba, this includes web-based courses, interactive television (ITV), Independent Study Option, Teacher Mediated Option, Web 2 Tools, Synchronous Tools.

5. Scenarios? Group share and talk Who needs Web-Based Courses? Why? How (where) might they be used to support student learning?

6. Reasons for taking courses online? credits not available in small schools with low enrollments –important for rural and northern schools student interest in alternative methods for earning credits teacher availability, especially in specialized areas such as Mathematics, Science, and French resolve timetabling issues implementation of new curricula/courses –Grade 11 Physical Education Health Education preparing students for lifelong learning other reasons?

7. Who takes advantage of WBCs? students use WBC to fill in some gaps –enrichment or remedial –technology skills distance learners in small schools where sharing is available teachers combine some elements of WBC in a f2f class teachers use WBC as resource

8. Stats 47 web-based courses ~ 1400 course sections ~ 4000 students for last year ~ 1000 teachers stats change everyday

10. WBC Development and Instructional Design designed to be teacher-mediated delivered asynchronously using a learning management system (LMS) called Blackboard (previously known as WebCT) modular concept self-contained –content, learning experiences, learning activities, assessments, communication, resources, etc., in the LMS. congruence with Manitoba’s curricular outcomes

11. Supporting Student Engagement in WBCs Discussions and review of existing WBCs Addition of new design concepts and tools: –more interactivity/inquiry –alternative solutions and explanations –more student helps –reflective journaling –teacher guided class discussions –more web resources

12. What does a WBC look like?

13. What does a Web-Based Course look like?

14. Modular Course Design

15. Discussions, Blogs, Journals

16. Communication: Discussions

17. Communication: Email

18. Communication: Calendar public or private entries

19. Assessment: Tests multiple choice matching short answer paragraph

20. Assignments

21. Assignment Dropbox

22. How To Preview a WBC? public access available http://webct.merlin.mb.ca login as demo (username) demo (password) The previews are limited versions of web-courses

23. What is the WBCRS? W eb B ased C ourse R equest S ystem teachers can get full access to any WBC http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

31. Support & Training for WBCs scheduled live workshops scheduled webinars webinar on demand, one-on-one support Online Community –tutorials, tips & tricks –guides, documents, web links –sharing alternative links for dead sites –recorded webinars and other resources email phone call

32. What’s on the horizon? New courses in development –http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.htmlhttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html New version of Blackboard –more teacher tools to support student learning. Wimba collaboration tools built-in tools for communication/collaboration –easier to navigate interface

34. Questions??

35. More Information Web-Based Course Availability: –www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/coursesfordelivery.htmlwww.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/coursesfordelivery.html Web-Based Course Development: –www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html Accessing a WBC as a teacher:www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/tech/wbc/wbcdevsched.html –http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequestshttp://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests Other resources can be found at: –in Blackboard: WBC Teacher’s Online Community –http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/WBC_Resourceshttp://dluspace.wikispaces.com/WBC_Resources Contact us: –howard.griffith@gov.mb.cahoward.griffith@gov.mb.ca –donald.girouard@gov.mb.cadonald.girouard@gov.mb.ca

36. Thank You!