Responsive Learning Experience Design: In the Trenches

In this episode, we discuss the responsibilities that learners have if they are to be successful in an online learning environment. 

• Be proactive 
• Make sure you understand and can use all the technology to be used in the class
• Make sure you understand how the instructional staff will communicate with you
• Make sure you understand where and how to get help
• Make sure you understand how you are to communicate with peers
• Don’t be shy - participate! This encourages others to participate
• Camera on!
• Be more organized - this will help you re-orient for different classes and assignments
• Take copious notes!
• Show up early
• Socialize a bit (virtually) with your peers before class

In this episode, we discuss the responsibilities that learners have if they are to be successful in an online learning environment. 

• Be proactive 
• Make sure you understand and can use all the technology to be used in the class
• Make sure you understand how the instructional staff will communicate with you
• Make sure you understand where and how to get help
• Make sure you understand how you are to communicate with peers
• Don’t be shy - participate! This encourages others to participate
• Camera on!
• Be more organized - this will help you re-orient for different classes and assignments
• Take copious notes!
• Show up early
• Socialize a bit (virtually) with your peers before class

In this episode, we talk about hitting the wall with remote classes and discuss techniques to de-stress, refocus, and keep pushing forward to the end of the semester.

In this episode, we discuss what support learners need to set them up for success in an online or remote learning experience. 

• Clear communication plan from instructional staff
• Clear explanation and supporting resources for all technology to be used in the course
• A clear calendar (meeting times, due dates, etc)
• A clear explanation of how class sessions will flow
• Clear advice on how to re-orient when getting back into a class or a study session for the class

In this episode, we introduce a series of podcasts in which we will be discussing techniques for better online learning from the learner's perspective. 

• Introduction of the series
• Discuss our experience with this topic
• Preparation:
  • What is different about an online course?
    • Define “online”
    • Compare and contrast:
      • Communication with instructional staff
      • Communication with peers
      • Collaboration with peers/group work
      • Participation during class
      • Re-orienting yourself for class or for homework
• Additional support for show topics via posts and resources

In this episode we interview Dinah Ward and discuss the following about her first week of online learning during the coronavirus shut down at The Ohio State University: 

• Number of classes and subjects 
• What techniques/technologies her instructors are using 
• Was going online a cross-university effort or teacher-by-teacher?
• What is the biggest change for her?
• What techniques/technologies are working the best?
• Which techniques/technologies are not working as well?
• What changes would she like to see moving forward?
• Compare/contrast/discuss OSU vs Northwest State first week experience.

In this episode, we discuss a variety of topics including:

• Recap of week 1 remote learning 
• Using an LMS in remote learning 
• Post-production of recorded video learning sessions 
• Using breakout rooms in Zoom 
  • Zoom video for using breakout rooms: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206476093-Getting-Started-with-Breakout-Rooms
• Other ways of encouraging interaction/socialization in Zoom 
• How the emergency move to online is influencing thoughts about designing and running courses in the future 
  • Blending in-person and online 
• Managing the workflow for creating responsive course content 
  • Compare and contrast with: 
    • Software development 
    • Video production 
    • Publishing 
• The curriculum development process should be technology and tool agnostic 
• Loosely coupled modules and lessons 
• Version control of course content and source of truth 
• Authoring tools 

In this episode, we discuss a variety of topics including:

• Review of Day 2 of remote learning in Ohio
• How to teach the use of tools in a remote class
• Reinforcing the value of socializing participants and instructors 
  • It is so much easier to give the benefit of the doubt to someone you’ve met (either virtually or in-person) 
  • Connections are so important 
  • Webcams on! 
• Connectedness in the digital age 
• Maximizing existing tools - the only net new tool is Zoom 
• K-12 plans for the rest of the year 
• Digital divide challenges for remote learning 
• Rethinking course design post-COVID 
• Defining Responsive Learning Experience Design 
• Importance of faculty training 
• Loose coupling of modules and creating connective tissue in a course 
• Reuse of material 
• Content creation and curation 
• Opinionated curriculum 
• Importance of instructor feedback for curriculum 
• Different axes of responsiveness 
• Importance of incremental improvement 

In this episode, we talk about a variety of topics including:

• Day 1 status - what went well and what didn't
• The importance of socialization to successful online learning experiences
• How consistent communication plans contribute to successful online learning experiences
• Why structure is important in online courses
• Leveraging moderators 
• The importance of level setting and setting expectations on the first day of an online course
• Using Zoom breakout rooms for small group interaction
• Zoom vs asynchronous content (i.e. videos)
• Key differences between short and longer class sessions
• Online vs face-to-face differences for lecture and discussion
• The importance of naming conventions for online sessions recordings
• Digital divide issues with remote learning
• Humanizing remote learning sessions - chit-chat at the beginning of each session