Enhancing Learning in Large Classes “Using Out-of-Classroom” Technology

1. Enhancing Learning in Large Classes “Using Out-of-Classroom” Technology • Prepared by the Learning Technology Faculty Associates (LTFAs) of Queen’s University • Jeff Hanlon, Jonathan Rose, Michelle Villeneuve, Andy Leger LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 1

2. Enhancing Learning in Large Classes… • Introduction • What do we mean by “Out-of-Classroom” technology? • The benefits of active and student-directed learning • What is a case story? • Why case stories? • Case story breakdown • Sample case stories LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 2

3. Introduction: What is Learning Tech About? • Doing “more with less”? • Changing the lecture experience? • Adding value to learning with new resources! • Allowing for more diversity in learning styles • Promoting active and student-directed learning LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 3

4. Introduction: What is Learning Tech About? “In general I want to emphasize that my interest [in learning technology]… is to get away from ‘student as stenographer’ - i.e. just taking notes - to ‘student as learner’ - involving being able to assimilate the information and then apply it.” – Allan Baer, Professor of Physiology, Queen’s University LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 4

5. What do we mean by “Out-of-Classroom” Technology? • Any learning object, module or software that can be used by students before or after a lecture that will add value to the lecture experience, and hopefully to their learning generally • Examples: enhanced lecture notes, discussion boards, interactive CDs, multimedia resources for student self-reflection LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 5

6. The benefits of Active and Student-Directed Learning • Encouraging self-reflection • Sharing experience • Building Community • Changing the lecture experience • Simulating real world situations • Developing innovative resources LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 6

7. What is a case story? According to CLOE ( http://cloe.on.ca/ ): • “Combination of the traditional case study, the on-line environment, the learning history (MIT), and educational multimedia.” • “May be created for use within an organization, outside an organization, and even industry wide.” • “In some cases, stories combined with learning activities that are situated – they allow the learner to try out ‘real’ tasks, deal with ‘real people’, and ‘real situations’.” (excerpted from Anne Palmer’s ‘Case Story Instructions’, http://cloe.on.ca/documents.html ) LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 7

8. What is a case story? • The documentation of the creation and use of a learning object or of the use of technology that adds value to learning environments. LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 8

9. Why Case Stories? • Sharing of ideas • Promotion of collaborations between Faculty and the Learning Technology Unit • Promotion of the Scholarship of Teaching on campus LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 9

10. Case Story Breakdown Who • What is the subject matter, and what type of learning environment are we dealing with? What • What technology is being used? How is it accessed? Why? • What is the learning objective involved? LTFA Presentation Merlot Conference: August 2004 Page 10