A learning management system (LMS) is
an online software administration, documentation, teaching and learning
system. Some participants who are involved a learning management
system or learning platform are in a geographically different locations than
the instructor. Weather in a traditional classroom or distance learning
environment, communication between instructor and participants, and participants
with their peers is essential (Simonson, Smaldino, & Zvacek,
2015). With the advent of the internet, many issues in communication have
been resolved because telecommunication networks have become more reliable and
accessible. With emails, chats, social media, podcasts, and live
video feeds, communication is fast and of low costs to the user. Although, many
instructors and participants communicate online, telephone and written
correspondence is also available, reliable, and cost effective. However,
it is not the mode of communication that is key. It is that the interaction
that occurs through the communication.
Instructional Design
For our district's learning management system (LMS), it is my belief that the Google platform would serve our students best. With our district's one to one MacBook deployment, our students have their own individual Gmail and Google Accounts. Therefore, Google would allow many opportunities for our students to communicate, share, and collaborate through Gmail, Docs, Hangouts, Blogger, Classroom, and Forms. Through the Google LMS, students would develop skills for communication and collaboration which are important 21st Century Skills. Furthermore, the Google LMS would also allow students to communicate and collaborate with others throughout the world via Google Hangouts.
Teaching
Communication and interactions in the online learning environment are much different than communication and interactions that occur face-to-face. One missing element in the traditional classroom experience is the multiple and instant ways in which the instructor and participants can communicate and interact within a online educational environment. To maintain best practices standards, instructors in the Google Classroom setting should plan, provide, and make participants aware of ways they can contact, interact, discuss, share, save information, and receive feedback from their instructor and peers. In order to support 21st century skills, Google Classroom has the added benefit of collaboration, commenting, and chatting directly in Google Docs. Students may also research directly in their documents and become the author of their own blog posts through Blogger.
The following video is a short introduction to Google Classroom.
Communication and interactions in the online learning environment are much different than communication and interactions that occur face-to-face. One missing element in the traditional classroom experience is the multiple and instant ways in which the instructor and participants can communicate and interact within a online educational environment. To maintain best practices standards, instructors in the Google Classroom setting should plan, provide, and make participants aware of ways they can contact, interact, discuss, share, save information, and receive feedback from their instructor and peers. In order to support 21st century skills, Google Classroom has the added benefit of collaboration, commenting, and chatting directly in Google Docs. Students may also research directly in their documents and become the author of their own blog posts through Blogger.
The following video is a short introduction to Google Classroom.
Students
It is the instructor’s engagement and involvement with the participants in the online learning environment that is most crucial to the success of the participants. The instructor is the one who initially builds the sense of an online community and facilitates the learning process for participants (Simonson, et al., 2015). When participants feel a part of a learning community they become actively engaged, collaborate and share in the learning experience. Thus, learning becomes a social activity in which communication is a vital part. According to Kumar (2016), “collaboration and interaction...[are] important experiences for learning” and result in participant satisfaction.
It is the instructor’s engagement and involvement with the participants in the online learning environment that is most crucial to the success of the participants. The instructor is the one who initially builds the sense of an online community and facilitates the learning process for participants (Simonson, et al., 2015). When participants feel a part of a learning community they become actively engaged, collaborate and share in the learning experience. Thus, learning becomes a social activity in which communication is a vital part. According to Kumar (2016), “collaboration and interaction...[are] important experiences for learning” and result in participant satisfaction.
Supports
As an instructor in a Google Classroom, one can view exactly what students are doing in real time through Google Docs and can comment or chat with students. This helps to create the interactions that are needed to build a safe, supportive, and comfortable learning environment. The commenting and chatting features in Google Classroom also allow for timely feedback and real time support for struggling students. In creating assignments for students, instructors can add links and videos to add support for content learning directing in assignments. Instructors can also add assignments to Google Calendar to help students manage their time and alert them when assignments are due or when activities are held.
Assessment
Another important aspect of Google Classroom is that the instructor can grade assignments that students have submitted and return those grades to the students through the learning management system. The Google Forms feature offers a way for instructors to create, present, and grade assessments.
As an instructor in a Google Classroom, one can view exactly what students are doing in real time through Google Docs and can comment or chat with students. This helps to create the interactions that are needed to build a safe, supportive, and comfortable learning environment. The commenting and chatting features in Google Classroom also allow for timely feedback and real time support for struggling students. In creating assignments for students, instructors can add links and videos to add support for content learning directing in assignments. Instructors can also add assignments to Google Calendar to help students manage their time and alert them when assignments are due or when activities are held.
Assessment
Another important aspect of Google Classroom is that the instructor can grade assignments that students have submitted and return those grades to the students through the learning management system. The Google Forms feature offers a way for instructors to create, present, and grade assessments.
References
Kumar, P. (2016). Advantages of information and
communication technologies in distance
education
sector. Retrieved from http://ijariie.com/AdminUploadPdf/ADVANTAGES_OF_INFORMATION__AND_COMMUNICATION___TECHNOLOGIES_IN_DISTANCE___EDUCATION_SECTOR_ijariie1533.pdf
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance:
Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteI too chose Google Classroom, partly because we started using it two years ago. As you pointed out, Google's collaboration features are perfect for engaging students in conversations and group work. It really has the ability to allow students to learn at any time and from anywhere (as long as they have internet). In applying this to our textual readings, an exemplary teacher is going to be excellent using a CMS system or teaching in a classroom. As Simonson, Smaldino, and Zvacek (2015) point out, "Quality distance teaching parallels efforts to provide exemplary teaching in any setting" (p.167).
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Lori, Google Classroom was a very popular LMS for this assignment! It appears that this LMS is very appropriate for K-8 and the other LMS's are geared toward high schools. According to Simonson et al (2015), "one of the most frequently used features of any CMS is discussion forum" (p. 235). According to Simonson et al (2015), "one of the most frequently used features of any CMS is discussion forum" (p. 235). Collaboration and interaction is a key part of the learning cycle for secondary education, therefore the features that Google Classroom offers are great.
ReplyDelete