This document discusses tools for engaging students in online groups. It describes how blogs, wikis, and VoiceThread can be used to foster collaboration and community. Examples are given of how these tools have been used successfully in nursing courses. Considerations for setting up collaborative projects and assessing student participation are also mentioned.

1. Practices for engaging students in online groups Who Done It?

2. Compass Knowledge Group Instructional Designers Elizabeth AdkinsMary Bruder

3. Since it is imperative that all involved in a group assignment participate equally, we’ve created some highly engaging activities using collaborative technologies. This session will show some of the tools to use, how to use them, and will provide the materials to set up your own engaging projects. Introduction

5. Demo

6. Blog

7. Wiki

8. Interactive Storytelling

10. How To Vote via Texting EXAMPLE Standard texting rates only (worst case US $0.20) We have no access to your phone number Capitalization doesn’t matter, but spaces and spelling do TIPS

12. Participation

13. Collaborative Learning

14. Teamwork

15. Communication

17. Participation

18. Collaborative Learning

19. Teamwork

20. Communication

22. Participation

23. Collaborative Learning

24. Teamwork

25. Communication

27. Participation

28. Collaborative Learning

29. Teamwork

30. Communication

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33. Collaborative Learning

34. Teamwork

35. Communication

37. Participation

38. Collaborative Learning

39. Teamwork

40. Communication

42. Asynchronous Communication A tool where individuals post commentary, describe events, share information through countless multimedia sources Holds a group discussion on one page Allows for interactive posts and replies From professional news to personalnews…

43. Description of Clinical Birth Experiences Students responded to Instructor Questions, Storytelling, Posts related to the Framework behind Clinical Practice Personal news reports came in the form of commentary & experiential descriptions, photos Clinical Nursing Midwifery Course

44. Community-based Learning Journal Future usage for E-Portfolio Platform for Student Encouragement Self-Analysis & Reflection Usage of tools outside the LMS Storytelling Ease of Usage Customizable Free Benefits

45. Privacy & Patient Information Casual Commentary & Professionalism Usage of tools outside the LMS Training Student Users Extend Reach of DL Programs Important Considerations

46. FAST web production….

47. Asynchronous Communication A tool where individuals create web pages quickly, collaboratively, virtually Ease of Use Instantaneous editing Digital Accountability From their website to my website..

48. Students worked in groups collaboratively on Case Study Assignments to formulate clinical diagnosis Collaboration also fostered community where students actively used “widget” features Nursing Health Assessment Course

49. Community Feel Future usage for E-Portfolio Usage of tools outside the LMS Ease of Usage Customizable Accountability Free Benefits

50. Privacy & Patient Information Casual Commentary & Professionalism Usage of tools outside the LMS - Reliability Training Student Users – Big Learning Curve Extend Reach of DL Programs (Marketing usage?) Scaffolding for Larger Classes Important Considerations

51. Interactive Discussion VoiceThread

52. Voice Thread is: A tool for having conversations around media-images, videos, documents, presentations Holds a group discussion on one page A Synchronous or asynchronous tool Allows Interactive posts and replies Display intro sample: http://voicethread.com Synchronous/Asynchronous

53. Add Media: What could you use? Images Documents Videos PDF, Word, Excel, PPT, Images, Videos Import photos from Flickr, Facebook, or WebCom Combination of Media Media Features

54. Synchronous/Asynchronous Five interactions for posts and replies can be used in a voice thread: What would you use? Telephone Webcam Microphone Typing Audio file – MP3 or WAV

55. http://voicethread.com Voicethreads for Education # 8 Examples

56. Register Instructor Register Students Account

57. Create Comment Publish Open to students Instructor Voice Thread

58. Introduction to Course Student Introductions Discussions Present Content Live Chats Some Ways to Use Voicethreads

59. In one of the Nursing courses at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (FHCHS), the instructor uses VoiceThread to post a case study. It was important for the instructor to hear how the student would speak to a patient and physician in a clinical setting. Students used voice thread to respond through audio to the case study. Nursing Course

60. Create/Comment/Publish A picture of a nurse talking to a patient was uploaded The case study for the student to respond to was recorded The VoiceThread was published

61. Student Responds The student listens to the Case Study The student records and saves their response to the VoiceThread The instructor opens the responses to other students or keeps the responses private (Open only to the instructor)

62. http://voicethread.com What do you think? Other Examples

63. Voice thread adds a sense of community Adds personal application through voice and not just typing Sends an update to the instructor when additions are made to the site Provides accountability for grading purposes Benefits

64. See Michelle Pacansky-Brock’s assessment of the effects of VoiceThread. See Michelle’s blog "VoiceThreads of Inclusivity“ http://mpbreflections.blogspot.com Voice Threads Effect on Learning

65. Discussion Thread Student training to create a wav file Easy to upload Easy to create No charge Easy to add to site Voice Thread Student training to create a voice thread Aesthetic Appeal Additional features Synchronous use No charge for basic package/60.00 for additional features Requires extra time to add to site Pros and Cons

66. Cost http://voicethread.com/products See the “Higher Ed pro” version

67. Setting Participation Expectations Setting the Tone Structuring Discussions/Projects Roles & Responsibilities Assessment & Feedback

68. Wiki’s , Blogs and Voice Thread Voice Thread http://fp.dl.kent.edu/fcubed/modules/modules/goalsassessment/examples.html http://www.westga.edu/~distance/roblyer32.html http://lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/blackboard/best_practices/ Rubrics to Assess Group Work

69. Graff, M. (2006). The importance of online community in student academic performance. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 4(2), pp. 127-132. Dunlap, J. (2009). Down-and-dirty guidelines for effective discussions in online courses. In P. Lowenthal, D. Thomas, A. Thai, & B. Yuhnke (Eds.) The CU Online Handbook: Teach differently: Create and collaborate (pp. 93-99). Denver: University of Colorado Denver. Retrieved from: http://www.cudenver.edu/Academics/CUOnline/FacultyResources/Handbook/Documents/2009/CU_Online_Handbook_2009.pdf Resources