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Explore the essential elements for creating a successful virtual classroom community in K-12 education in this insightful presentation by Dr. Lujean Baab. Addressing the unique challenges faced by online teachers, this session covers skill transfer, time management, content management, and effective classroom management strategies. Learn how to foster personalized learning environments, establish clear expectations, and utilize collaborative learning activities to enhance student engagement and socialization. Discover practical approaches and best practices to strengthen classroom community and improve learning outcomes.
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Building a Virtual Classroom Community Dr. Lujean Baab Director, M.Ed. Programs - DeSales University VSS 2010 www.tinyurl.com/BaabVSS2010
Challenges for K-12 Online Teachers • Transferring skills to new environment. • Insufficient professional development • Management tasks • Time management • Content management • ‘Classroom’ management Rice, K., Dawley, L., Gasell, C., and Florez, C. (2008) Going Virtual: Unique Needs and Challenges of K-12 Online Teachers. Boise State University with North American Council for Online Learning. pp. 3-4. Retrieved 6/25/09 from http://edtech.boisestate.edu/goingvirtual/goingvirtual2.pdf
Contact • As early as possible • As personalized as possible • Reduce potential for problems • Provide clear expectations (doc w/ return) • Establishing identities and ‘social presence’ • Introductory discussion - • Teacher and Student photo directory – • Photo and audio in documents / correspondence
Research • Mode of Delivery • Asynchronous • Blend of asynch / synch (no on-site) • Hybrid (onsite / online) • Teaching Style • Expert – formal authority • Personal model - facilitator - delegator • Learning Style • Active / reflective – sensing / intuitive • Visual / verbal – sequential / global • Level of Interactivity (Roblyer) • Classroom Community Scale (Rovai)
Building a more solid foundation • Factors affecting the ‘sense of classroom community’ • Mode of delivery • Highest – Blended/hybrid • Lowest - Asynchronous • Teaching style (Grasha-Riechmann) • Highest – Facilitator • Lowest – Delegator
Building a more solid foundation • Factors affecting the ‘sense of classroom community’ • Learning style (Felder & Silverman) • Active – Reflective • Sensing – Intuitive • Visual – Verbal • Sequential - Global • Interactivity (amount and type) Online Questionnaire Descriptions of Learning Styles
Building a more solid foundation Relationship View Learner Relationships Teacher Relationships Learner – Teacher Teacher - Teacher Learner – Content Teacher - Content Learner – Learner Teacher – Learner Learner – Technology Teacher - Technology
Managing the Classroom Community • Interactivity* • Relationship with teacher and classmates • Socialization and communication with other students • Real time (online or onsite) opportunties • Collaborative learning activities Social networks and Web 2.0 technologies. *From: Watson J. and Gemin B. (2008) Promising Practices in Online Learning: Socialization in Online Programs. North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) p. 6. Retrieved 6/25/09 from http://www.inacol.org/resources/promisingpractices/NACOL_PP_Socialization.pdf
Managing the OnlineClassroom Community • Established norms (expectations) • Learning styles - teaching styles • Roles in the classroom community • Teacher led, student centered • Responsibilities defined • Structure vs. Interaction • “transactional distance”
Managing the OnlineClassroom Community • “transactional distance” • Interactivity leading to dialogue between teachers and students can serve to reduce what Moore (1993) describes as "transactional distance.“ • Transactional distance is relative and different for each person and from each distance education program to the next. • Greater structure / lower interaction = more learner autonomy • Greater transactional distance = less connection • Greater structure / higher interaction = less learner autonomy • Lower transactional distance = greater connection
Content • Pacing for guided learning • within the established structure • facilitation not delegation • Timing and ‘time on task’ • Consistent, reliable scheduled access • Estimation of time to complete activities • Managing files and student submissions • Structure established, maintained, and required For example: BaabLHistoryFinalPaper06-10
Consistency (Structure) • Maintain routine • Reliable • Sustainable • Maintain patterns • Location of material • Division of tasks (reading, discussion, activity) • Submission of work completed (file/email) • Maintain schedule • Advanced notice of change • Explanation for change
Cornerstones Confidence
Dr. Lujean Baab DeSales University 2755 Station Ave. Center Valley, PA 18034 Lujean.baab@desales.edu 610-282-1100 X1461