The Opportunity…
What is there in your life that makes this learning option available and attractive to you at this moment?
My ARP plan states:
I am interested in learning how to change my online teaching strategies to encourage a sense of community in my online classes and I expect the result of that to be better retention and student success. I will examine how I teach online, what techniques I can use to foster community, and how the changes I make in my own online classroom affect the students I teach. Based on my personal experiences in this project, I would like to generalize what I have learned and share it with other online instructors.
This learning project will support my ARP goals by giving me practical experience to draw on as I progress through the program.
The Proposal…
Therefore, my goal for this project, is to:
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Identify collaborative learning strategies that can be used in an online class.
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Share that information with distance ed colleagues at my college.
The Questions…
What is it that I don't know that prompts this investigation? What are my questions?
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What can I do to encourage students to make connections with each other and develop a support system among their peers?
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How can I structure group activities to promote participation, interaction, and learning?
Construct...
What will you make and how will it relate to your learning topic?
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I will construct a website for faculty that describes online learning strategies and gives concrete examples of activities that work.
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I will incorporate one or more strategies into my advanced web design class that will be taught online for the first time in the spring.
Apply...
What technical tools will you use to help you learn?
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Dreamweaver MX
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Fireworks MX
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HorizonLive to view webcasts
Join...
What groups will you join and how will you participate with those more expert or those who might be just beginning to learn what you have learned.
I have joined the following communities:
Communities of Practice YahooGroup facilitated by John Smith and Melissie Rumizen.
Distance Education Online Symposium
Teach...
How will you share what you have learned with others?
I will create a website that can be used as a resource for distance education instructors at my campus. This will be shared with them upon completion before the semester begins. I will use the subject of collaboration and community as a topic for a brown bag lunch meeting once school begins in mid-January.
Exhibit...
Where and/or how will you publish or exhibit your project?
I will publish a web site about the process and project.
Reflect...
What form of reflection will you use to monitor and share your learning process.
I will keep an online journal of my progress, thoughts, and ideas as I work through this project. I will ask for comments and suggestions from selected cadremates and from one of my critical friends.
TIMELINE
Week One (Dec 1-7):
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Listen to archived webcast - LearningTimes: Building Learning Communities with Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt
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Begin reading "Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace"
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Investigate web resources for collaborative learning and community building
Week Two (Dec 8-14):
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Continue reading "Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace"
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Webcast: Generational Learning Styles (12/11 10am)
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Begin investigation into Learning Circles
Week Three (Dec 15-21):
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Finish "Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace"
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Begin "Discussion as a Way of Teaching"
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Investigate the dynamics of dialogue and how it can work in an online class
Week Four (Dec 22-28)
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Continue "Discussion as a Way of Teaching"
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Begin collaborative learning strategies website
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Develop Learning Circle activity for advanced web design class
Week Five (Dec 29-Jan 4):
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Finish "Discussion as a Way of Teaching"
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Finish collaborative learning strategies website
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Build advanced web online class learning circle activity
Follow-up
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Email DE instructors website information
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Schedule brown bag lunch dates and topics for spring semester
Resources
An Online
Workshop as a Community of Practice
Wellspring - An Online Community
of Distance Educators
Crossroads Consulting Group
Extending the
Pedagogy of Threaded-topic Discussions
Learning Times
US Distance Learning Association
Email: dlkilbur@pepperdine.edu
AIM: kilburnkrew OR fourhweb 
ICQ: 127174826
Tapped In: DebbyKi / office 1018