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I'm a huge fan of creative #experimentation: trying new things, seeing what works.
Of all my online learning padlets, quizzes, peer learning, one thing my students really like is my tiny text book.
So I'm making another, for next term's course on international development.
Of all my online learning padlets, quizzes, peer learning, one thing my students really like is my tiny text book.
So I'm making another, for next term's course on international development.
But I won't be making any more Padlets.
A Padlet is like a big whiteboard, which students collectively edit online, sharing differing perspectives. So all their ideas in one document
Actually, they liked this least. They much prefer talking together, not writing in silence!
A Padlet is like a big whiteboard, which students collectively edit online, sharing differing perspectives. So all their ideas in one document
Actually, they liked this least. They much prefer talking together, not writing in silence!
How do I know this?
I set up a mid-term feedback poll, so students could tell me what they found helpful and what they didn't.
I teach all the second years and didn't want to wait till the end of term evals to know what I'd done wrong!
I set up a mid-term feedback poll, so students could tell me what they found helpful and what they didn't.
I teach all the second years and didn't want to wait till the end of term evals to know what I'd done wrong!
People were also very happy with my video lectures.
Side note: I do not use any slides, it's just me talking directly to the camera. I think this makes them more engaging. Certainly no worse than a live performance.
All the info is in the Handbook (see tweet 1).
Side note: I do not use any slides, it's just me talking directly to the camera. I think this makes them more engaging. Certainly no worse than a live performance.
All the info is in the Handbook (see tweet 1).
Weekly short answer questions on the readings got 
I designed these to help students grapple with the big questions before coming to class.
It's not assessed, but I provide collective feedback to all the students. Students said they find this helpful.
I designed these to help students grapple with the big questions before coming to class.
It's not assessed, but I provide collective feedback to all the students. Students said they find this helpful.
My latest tweak is that students discuss these questions in pairs before coming to class.
I want to foster peer learning so that students engage with different perspectives, and test out their ideas before coming to class.
I'm definitely doing this next term as well.
I want to foster peer learning so that students engage with different perspectives, and test out their ideas before coming to class.
I'm definitely doing this next term as well.
Final point, and possibly controversial,
We all struggle with a conundrum. Some students are shy, reluctant to speak, for fear of getting it wrong or seeming to keen. But if students are silent it is boring for all. No one learns. They lose interest.
What do you do?
We all struggle with a conundrum. Some students are shy, reluctant to speak, for fear of getting it wrong or seeming to keen. But if students are silent it is boring for all. No one learns. They lose interest.
What do you do?
Videos are another challenge. Some students are reluctant to turn their cameras on. But this creates a collective action problem. With no visible faces, students lack any sense of community, it's not a nice discussion.
What do you do?
Again my approach may be controversial..
What do you do?
Again my approach may be controversial..
There is a tight-rope. Students may have perfectly valid reasons for staying quiet or turning their videos off. Online learning is tricky, everyone is struggling.
So arguably we should be very sympathetic, let them do what they want.
But then you have a black wall of silence.
So arguably we should be very sympathetic, let them do what they want.
But then you have a black wall of silence.
So I ask everyone to turn their videos on. I say it's WEIRD if they do not. No one would walk into a room with a paper bag over their head. I ask individuals to turn their videos on. I don't start the class till everyone is visible.
THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER, EVERYONE IS HAPPIER.
THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER, EVERYONE IS HAPPIER.
I also ask questions to specific individuals.
So everyone participates. No one stays silent.
This probably makes my first class scary - no one likes being put on the spot.
But they get used to it, come to expect it, prepare more, & we have great discussions, with all involved
So everyone participates. No one stays silent.
This probably makes my first class scary - no one likes being put on the spot.
But they get used to it, come to expect it, prepare more, & we have great discussions, with all involved
No doubt others have different styles,
I'm just sharing my reflections on half a dozen experiments.
May all your online learning be happy and productive, however you choose to walk that tightrope
I'm just sharing my reflections on half a dozen experiments.
May all your online learning be happy and productive, however you choose to walk that tightrope
