Internet Enhanced Learning:

Internet Enhanced Learning: The Student Experience of SW1008 Prepared at the Request of Dr. Aaron Mann For the Team Teachers’ Meeting on March 15, 2000 Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Introduction • This presentation will explore student and instructor experiences with internet-enhanced learning. • It is based on the personal observations of the instructors and comments from students Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Topics of Discussion • Reasons to use the internet • Learning curve and preparatory work required of the instructor • Student Learning Curve • Comments from the students • What This Means • Websites Used in the Course Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Some Reasons to Use the Internet • Communication Convenience • Low Cost Information-Sharing • Electronic Assignment Submission Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Avoids the need to play phone-tag Provides quick responses to student concerns Is not schedule-dependent, ie, feedback can be provided any time through email Email communication is especially helpful if instructor is off-site and comes to campus only to teach Email provides a written record of student concerns Communication Convenience Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Saves photocopying costs because students can print out material from their own accounts Provides access to most current information available Downloads of full-text documents and legislation are possible Encourages the development of computer skills in students and professors Low-cost information sharing Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Dissemination of an email-based assignment and class update newsletter A website library of class readings in pdf format. Emailing of individual grades and progress Websites enumerating references and suggestions for class assignments Links to topic-relevant online multi-media presentations Examples of internet-information sharing Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screenshot of email-based newsletter Email Based News-letter Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screen-shot of Downloadable Course Readings Library Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screen-shot of Web-based Resources for Group Projects Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screen-shot of What you see after clicking question 1 Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screen-shot of Web-based Resources for Correcting Student Errors Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Screen-shot of web-based resources for research paper development Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Saves you from being buried in papers. Is Physiologically beneficial, I.e. eliminates strain on body derived from carrying materials Most programs have a search and locate feature to zoom in on a particular section of the paper If print is small, you can use the “Zoom in” feature Electronic Assignment Submission Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Can be initially intimidating. Technical Assistance is available at Pitt through Ctr for Instructional Development and Distance Education Familiarity with software packages is helpful Course materials must be in a format readable by computer applications Learning curve and preparatory work required of Instructor Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Must deal with “computer phobia” and different amounts of computer knowledge among students Students must use available technical assistance. Available assistance refers to the 24-hour computer help desk at 624-HELP Also depends on the knowledge-level of the CIS computer consultant Student Learning Curve Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Student Learning Curve (Cont’d) • Student must be motivated to learn the new technology. • Student must understand that sometimes computer problems happen. Therefore, s/he may experience frustration in the short-term but will gain some new marketable skills in the long-term Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

“It’s frustrating when the computer does not do what I want it do” “What you asked us to do initially sounded complicated, but with practice, it is becoming easier “I really appreciate learning new computer skills” “I can see how the computer makes performing tasks easier” Comments from Students Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

What This Means • Using the internet to enhance learning requires more work for both professor and student in the beginning. • With practice, patience and persistence, however, instructors and students will see the potential of the internet to enrich the teaching and learning experience Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Websites used in this course • http://www.pitt.edu/~wschutz/ethnicity.htm • http://www.pitt.edu/~wschutz/projects.htm • http://www.pitt.edu/~wschutz/SW1008-lectures • http://www.pitt.edu/~wschutz/home.htm • http://www.pitt.edu/~wschutz/school.htm Created by Bill Schutz, March 14, 2000

Internet Enhanced Learning: