What makes a good elearner

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What makes a good e-learner?

• Dr. Jo Hamilton-Jones
• Assistant Director of Combined Honours,
• Aston University,
• Birmingham, U.K.

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Brief Academic Biography

• Sept 1997 August 2002
• Senior Lecturer in Information Technology
• University College Worcester, U.K.
• Sept 1994 Present
• Tutor/Tutor Mentor/Author/Examiner/Consultant
• National Extension College, Cambridge, U.K.
• Sept 2000 Present
• Visiting Associate Professor in Informatics
• Halmstad University, Sweden
• August 2002 - Present
• Assistant Director of Combined Honours
• Aston University, Birmingham, U.K.
• Lecture
• Computer Science, Information Technology and
  Informatics.
• Research Areas
• Edutainment, e-learning, e-communication, using
  virtual learning environments in learning and
  teaching.

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Acknowledgement

• The initial research for this project was made
  possible through an award from-
• The Learning and Teaching Centre
• University College Worcester

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• Case 1
• University College Worcester
• http//www.worc.ac.uk
• ITY241 Online Learning
• Case 2
• Halmstad University, Sweden
• http//www.hh.se
• Business Information Technology (BIT3)

• Case 3
• National Extension College, Cambridge
• http//www.nec.ac.uk
• Tutoring Online
• Case 4
• Aston University, Birmingham
• http//www.aston.ac.uk
• CS1280 Internet Computing

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UCW ITY241 Online Learning

• Level 2 module 12 lecturing weeks
• f2f at UCW
• 12 f2f meetings
• 24 students balance of ages and genders
• F2f lectures asynchronous conference
• Online at Hereford
• 2 f2f lectures(Wks 1 7) asynchronous
  conference
• 10 online chats
• 10 students mostly mature and balance of gender
• Wednesday evening
• Lasted 1.5 hours
• Chatroom agenda for structure
• Assessment
• Same for both groups
• Online group had better average mark than f2f
  group

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UCW About the teaching and learning

• Module syllabus developed in e-learning styles,
  producing-
• a paper-based study pack
• supporting technological materials
• research, e.g. websites, electronic materials
• Organised, administered and delivered the module
  in e-learning mode to
• Hereford group of students
• Volunteer students from the UCW group
• Supported the learning and teaching by a
  pre-arranged timetable of virtual meetings using
• BSCW conference server
• chat room

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UCW About the module

• Module with theoretical and practical components
• Large number of students
• Resulted in two groups giving a f2f(control)
  group and an e-learning group
• Who are part-time or mature and who traditionally
  experienced attendance difficulties

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UCW Online Learning Handbook

• What is e-learning?
• You as the learner
• How the e-learning module works
• Studying using e-learning
• Finding time to study
• Where to study
• Resources
• Writing for e-learning
• Style and tone
• Friendly, personal and open
• Humour
• Be informal
• Privacy
• Valuing differences
• More information

• Email
• Using email effectively
• What makes a good email?
• The discussion forum
• The chat room
• Face to face lecturing
• The tutors role
• See web ref

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HH BIT3 E-commerce

• International module
• Awareness and understanding of E-commerce
• Designing and building an e-commerce website
• 8 week lecturing period
• March May each year
• F2f
• 2 sets of f2f meetings
• Beginning and end of module
• Lectures practical classes
• Online
• 6 week period
• Questions
• Regular online feedback
• Assessment
• All students successful
• Became more conversant with using technology for
  learning

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NEC Tutoring Online

• 12 week course
• Getting started online
• Learning in a web-based environment
• Supporting your students online
• Good teaching and learning at a distance
• Using other online tools with your students
• Keeping up-to-date
• 2 weeks on each topic
• Structured chat sessions
• 3 assessments
• Course is totally online

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Aston CS1280 Internet Computing

• 12 week course
• 150 students
• Computing for Business and Computing(Combined
  Honours)
• Level 1 module - Internet Computing
• theory and practical(HTML, CGI, PHP)
• Regular weekly meetings
• 2 lectures(1 hour each)
• 1 practical(1 hour)
• No components onlineyet!!!

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UCW Introductory Questionnaire

• Computer and www facilities
• Reasons for studying the module
• Knowledge/experience of studying online
• Questions

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Question

• How much experience have you had with e-learning?
• Ingredients in the blend?
• Paper
• CD
• Online
• Others

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UCW Feedback from introductory questionnaire

• To gain online learning skills and to try to
  improve my knowledge of Toolbook
• To get first hand experience of learning online
• Timetable clash
• Sounded interesting in content and different from
  other modules in the way that it is taught
• A new concept and the obvious to study from the
  comforts of home
• Broadens experience for employment purposes

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HH Have you studied using online conferencing
before? If so, please give details

• Yes, a bit. I am now working within nordplus
  programme for e-commerce. That course is a little
  bit more from a managerial perspective I think.
  Polish student
• Never, so Im interested! French student
• Never and I could not imagine before to work like
  that but it is nice! - French student
• Yes I have dealt with both the concept of working
  by conference and also completed a course in
  Website design, via this means of communication
  with the lecturer on email and chat boards.
  New Zealand student

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HH Have you studied using online conferencing
before? If so, please give details

• Sorry,I haven't done it before Chinese student
  
• it's the first time that i use online conference,
  it sounds great! French student
• Unfortunately never. I believe that this
  interactive system is both effective and pleasant
  to study with. French student
• Unfortunately I have not worked with conference.
  I hope I can learn to use it Polish student.
• Yes, I have used Black Board before in New
  Zealand. NZ student
• I have studied using online conferencing before.
  This was in NZ about one year ago. It was for a
  course on Internet and Web development. Part of
  our assessment was to become familiar with online
  learning, we had to use WebCT to chat and
  communicate with other members of the class. NZ
  student

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Discussion Question

• What makes a good e-learner?
• Suggest 6 positive features
• Suggest 6 negative features
• Elaborate with examples wherever possible

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UCW ITY241 Evaluation Positive aspects

• Can learn at own rate
• Interesting way to learn
• Learned more learning through this style
• Communicated more, using email and conferencing
  with
• the lecturer
• other students than normal
• Communicated more, using email and conferencing,
  with the lecturer than usual
• Effective replacement of supplement to
  traditional lectures and tutorials
• Would take another module in this form

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UCW ITY 241 Evaluation - Issues

• Reduced access to lecturer
• Reduced discussion of problems
• Online learning worked for theoretical aspects of
  the course
• practical aspects are better dealt with in the
  traditional classroom environment
• Need more review exercises/text in the material

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HH Which three features are important for
effective virtual communication

• Mainly my experience comes from my chats with my
  friends I left in Poland. But I also use
  discussion groups quite a lot when working on
  certain projects. That's fast, cheap and
  usually accurate information. Polish student
• Both the sender and receiver are on the same
  wave length. You should both understand either
  the complexity or simplicity of your writing.
  That you both speak the same language. You need
  a shared medium, maybe its you both speak
  Chinese. New Zealand student

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HH Which three features are important for
effective virtual communication

• Talking in plain language. Frequent updates and
  replies. Saying exactly what you mean. NZ
  student
• Speed - it is important how fast the information
  flow to destination. Certainty - that your
  message will reach the aim. Mobility - using
  communication technology I can send email from
  every place I am. Polish student

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HH Which three features are important for
effective virtual communication

• 3 important features are font, emoticons and
  expressive language. By use of language, I mean
  that you can express how you feel by writing in
  capital letters if you are angry, and perhaps if
  you make a comment that could be ambiguous, it
  can be wise to add an emoticon, i.e. a smily
  face, so a the reader has an idea of what your
  feelings are. NZ student
• Language,let everybody understand is very
  important.Speed,you hope your message can be sent
  as soon as possible - Chinese student

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HH Is e-learning efficient?

• Online learning will be efficient for some and
  not others.
• Surely it all boils down to the individual's
  needs and motivation for learning online and the
  circumstances that revolve around that person.
• Much is dependent upon the individual as well as
  the online course and its presentation /content
  NZ student

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NEC About learning online

• Made me realise what it is like to LEARN online
  information in small steps, easily understandable
  language, liaison with other group members isnt
  always as easy as f2f have to be more sensitive
  to innuendo
• Important to attend regularly, be motivated and
  be organised
• Cant talk too much!! Have to be more aware of
  other group members in online sessions

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Aston What makes a good online learner?

• Can apply the knowledge that they have just
  learned
• Can work on their own
• Motivation
• Good time management
• Willing to learn and likes using computers
• Patience
• Already knowledgeable about online learning

• Organised
• Being able to learn fast
• Dedication
• Regular attendance
• Questions and doesnt always accept

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Characteristics of an e-learner

• Motivation
• Conscientious attitude
• Mature attitude
• not necessarily in age
• IT skills
• a sound proficiency rather than high level
• Supported by suitable technical framework
• Organised
• Flexible

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Discussion Question

• What makes a good e-tutor?
• Suggest 6 positive features
• Suggest 6 negative features
• Elaborate with examples wherever possible

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HH Is e-learning efficient?

• I think the point is that you didn't tell us
  everything but you show used how to use being
  online to find the answers and you managed to
  keep us thinking in an independent way! Polish
  student

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NEC About e-tutoring

• Organised
• Methodical
• Flexible
• Informal
• Firm but fair
• e.g. flaming
• A good start
• Language fluency and explanation is very
  important makes up for body language

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Aston CS1280 Internet Computing

• Important features in an e-learning course
• Feedback
• Online help
• Lots of information and examples in small chunks
• easy accessibility
• user friendly
• good computer skills, familiarity with system
• good layout and presentation
• questions, tests and quizzes, FAQs
• technical support
• multimedia(sound, video)

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Characteristics of an e-tutor

• Quick response to queries(within 24 hours)
• Constructive and supportive framework
• Chat room agenda
• Conference questions
• Constructive and supportive feedback
• Suitable e-learning materials
• Devised specifically rather than recycled from
  f2f classes

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Aston e-ntering Combined Honours

• http//www.aston.ac.uk/combhons/jo/proj