Understanding Virtual Schools (1
credit hour)
This one credit hour course is designed to develop students
knowledge about the world of online learning for K-12 students.
As part of the course, students will examine the history of online
learning, current trends in online learning, and the the characteristics
and learning needs of K-12 virtual learners. In addition, students
will examine and critique sample virtual high school programs
as well as selected demonstration courses made available by a
wide range of service providers. Finally, students will examine
the literature related to the benefits, limitations, and important
criticisms of virtual learning opportunities for K-12 students.
The course culminates in the submission of a briefing paper presenting
clear recommendations to educational policy makers.
Meet The Online Academy (1 credit hour)
This one credit hour course is designed to develop students
knowledge about GMU's virtual high school program, The Online
Academy. The course will focus on the design model that
structures online courses with particular attention to the role
of representative problems, performances of understanding, communities/fields
of practice, and online mentors. Students will role play a virtual
high school students and complete one learning module as well
as role play a virtual high school student supporting an adolescent
online learner. From these role playing experiences, students
will come to understand the structure and interactions embedded
in the design model.
Online Mentoring 1: Building Relationships (1
credit hour)
This one credit hour course is designed to assist students in
the development of online mentoring skills related to the integral
role that building relationships plays in the success of online
learning. Students will examine online mentoring strategies including
appropriate questioning, effective listening, assessing communication
for underlying messages, and responding to virtual learners'
need for connectedness adult interaction. Through a series of
case studies, students will examine online interpersonal communications
and discuss ways to improve and/or refine those communications.
Finally,
students will participate in role playing activities simulating
email exchanges with virtual high school learners.
Online Mentoring 2: Promoting Self-Regulation (1
credit hour)
This one credit hour course is designed to assist students in
the development of online mentoring skills related to the integral
role that self-regulation plays in the success of online
learning. Students will examine and build expertise in support
virtual learners' efforts to manage time, use effective notetaking
strategies, imiplement effective text comprehension strategies,
and build self-efficacy as learners. Through a series of
case studies, students will examine online self-regulation communications
and discuss ways to improve and/or refine self-regulatory support
for online learners. Finally, students will participate in role
playing activities simulating
email exchanges with virtual high school learners.
Online Mentoring 3: Conceptual Learning (1
credit hour)
This one credit hour course is designed to assist students in
the development of online mentoring skills related to the role
that support of conceptual and content understanding plays
in the success of
online learning. Students will examine the language of thinking,
thinking dispositions, mental management, strategic thinking,
higer order knowledge, and transfer of learning as well as the
way in which these can be supported in online learning environments.
Through a series of case studies, students will examine online
communications
related to conceptual learning and
discuss ways to improve and/or refine those communications. Finally,
students will participate in role playing activities simulating
email exchanges with virtual high school learners.
Practicum in Instructional Technology (2
credit hours)
This
two credit hour course is designed to bridge theory and practice.
Through robust "student-teacher" like relationships
with expert virtual high school teachers, students will shadow
a virtual learner and online mentor through the successful completion
of a learning module or unit. The student will have opportunities
to discuss their observations of the ongoing learning process
with
the online
mentor. Following this experience, students will take on the
challenge of serving as an online mentor for a virtual high school
learner while being shadowed by an expert online mentor. Students
will have opportunities to consult with the expert online mentor
as well as receive constructive feedback from the expert online
mentor as the learning module or unit progresses.
Online Mentoring 4: Moderating (2
credit hours)
This two credit hour course is designed to assist students in
developing expertise with moderating student learning in online
environments. The course will include attention to moderating
in both synchronous and asynchronous environments to include
discussion boards, bulletin boards, chat rooms, and virtual
classrooms. Students will develop expertise with moderating strategies
to include social dialogue, argumentative dialogue, pragmatic
dialogue, cummunity building strategies, questioning, prompting
reflection, facilitating conceptual understanding, and serving
as a geneartive guide.
Designing Online Learning (3 credit
hours)
This
three credit hour course is designed to engage students in
a consideration
of curriculum design strategies appropriate
for
the design of online learning opportunities.
The course will include examples of curriculum design strategies,
readings, discussions, and the design of lessons or units appropriate
to online learning contexts and contents. This course
will refine concepts previously introduced in the course, Meet
The Online Academy, and focus on problem-based
learning, problem-centered curriculum design, authentic instruction,
and
rationales and
processes for implementing authentic assessment. Particular emphasis
will be placed on the Norton & Wiburg (2003) FACTS model of
design and the Norton (2004) COPLS model.
Using a CMS to Design Online Learning (3
credit hours)
This three credit hour course examines course management systems
with particular attention to Blackboard. Students will
explore the features of course management systems, the benefits
and limitations of using course management systems, and examples
of course design and development using these systems. Finally,
this course will build upon design and development principles taught
in EDCI 714 - Designing Online Learning. Students will design
and teach a short course using a course management system. |
