Microflipping

In a recent post to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sam Buemi who is an “e-learning coach and social-sciences instructor at Northcentral Technical College, in Wisconsin” outlines a strategy called “Microflipping” (The Chronicle, 2014). The “Flipped Classroom” strategy of teaching has gained momentum recently. In this method, students cover core concepts and material outside of the classroom and then work on active learning and group work in the classroom to reinforce concepts.

Microflipping

The task of “Flipping” a course can seem daunting, but it is important to remember that a “Flip” does not have to cover 100% of the course. In his article, Buemi introduces “Microflipping.”“Unlike the fully flipped approach where students are expected to come to class prepared, microflipping is designed to instruct both those students who have done the required assignments before class and those who have not” (The Chronicle, 2014).  Buemi goes on to say, “Microflipping complements traditional teaching by emphasizing that class engagement and critical thinking are a central priority in helping students learn” (The Chronicle, 2014).

This is a great strategy to complement what is already happening in a traditional classroom and to experiment with emerging trends before moving to them completely.

Full Article: Microflipping: a Modest Twist on the ‘Flipped’ Classroom

To learn more about the “Flipped Classroom,” please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Source:

The Chronicle (2014, April). Microflipping: a Modest Twist on the ‘Flipped’ Classroom.

Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Microflipping-a-Modest-Twist/145951/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Boost Persistence with Encouragement

Engage: Engaging Students in Engineering recently published an article, “Boost Persistence with Encouragement,” detailing the importance of faculty feedback towards student retention. “Since faculty comments can make or break a student’s self-perception, a brief encouraging word from you can make the difference between a student switching majors or persevering” (Engage, 2014).

Engage Logo

In the article, Engage highlights two areas of engagement:

  1. Encourage the class as a whole
  2. Encourage an individual student

In both cases, encouragement is seen as a tool to incorporate with evaluation.

Full Article: Boost Persistence with Encourage

To learn more about encouragement strategies in the classroom, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Carmen Update

Carmen will undergo its annual update the weekend of May 2nd. Carmen will be unavailable beginning Friday May 2nd at 6PM and will remain offline until Sunday May 4th.

Carmen Logo

If you are using Carmen for grades this semester, the Carmen Team recommends that all final grades be submitted before Carmen goes offline. The Carmen Team has prepared a set of guides outlining how to calculate final grades in Carmen and then export these grades to the registrar.

Carmen Gradebook: Final Grades

The annual Carmen update this year does not include a major interface changes like the changes that were implemented last year, however several main tools will receive updates. A summary of the updates can be found on the Carmen Team blog.

Carmen Update: Overview

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Learning Objectives in a Flipped Classroom

Robert Talbert recently “flipped” a calculus course and found that instructionally sound learning objectives are key, “A clear set of learning objectives is at the heart of any successful learning experience, and it’s an essential ingredient for self-regulated learning since self-regulating learners have a clear set of criteria against which to judge their learning progress” (The Chronicle, 2014).

Robert Talbert

In Robert’s article he highlights a three step process to create instructionally sound learning objectives for a “flipped” course, however these principals can be beneficial in any instructional situation.

The Article: “Creating learning objectives, flipped classroom style”

Robert’s Profile

To learn more about creating instructionally sound learning objectives or how they can be used in your situation, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Source:

The Chronicle (2014, March). Creating learning objectives, flipped classroom style.

Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/castingoutnines/2014/03/05/creating-learning-objectives-flipped-classroom-style/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Mendeley (2014, March). Robert Talbert.

Retrieved from http://www.mendeley.com/profiles/robert-talbert/

Innovate 2014

The annual Innovate Conference will be occurring this week at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Innovate is hosted by the Ohio State Office of Distance Education and eLearning and highlights innovative uses of technology in higher education.

Innovate 2014

During the conference, the Fisher Educational Technology Team will be presenting a poster on their recent project Flipped Through Design (Described in a January 27th post to this blog).

Flipped Through Design Session Description

Registration to Innovate has closed, however a Live Stream will be offered to view all formal sessions.

Innovate 2014 Live Stream

If you have any questions about Innovate or in general, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Periodic Table of Instructional Design

Instructional Design is the systematic design of instruction. Although Instructional Design can be used as a powerful development tool in education, it can be overwhelming. The “Periodic Table of Instructional Design” attempts to alleviate confusion by categorizing and explaining stages of development.

Periodic Table of Instructional Design

The table uses the ADDIE Model of Instructional Design (Analysis, Design, Development, Evaluation, and Implementation) to create categories. In these categories different aspects of each design phase are listed and explained. To see the full table, please select the link below:

Periodic Table of Instructional Design

To learn how Instructional Design can be applied in your situation, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition

For the past 11 years, The New Media Consortium (NMC) in collaboration with EDUCAUSE has published the Horizon Report. The Horizon Report identifies and describes “…emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in education…”

2014 Horizon Report

This year’s report highlights six emerging trends and predicts when these trends will create change, in the next 1-2 years, 3-5 years, or 5 plus years. There are two trends in each group. The trends that are identified as having significant impact in the next 1-2 years are “Online, Hybrid, and Collaborative Learning” and “Social Media Use in Learning.” To read more about these emerging trends or to read the entire report, please select the links below.

NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition: Preview

NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition: Full Report

To discuss how these emerging trends may be incorporated into your situation, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Source:

The New Media Consortium (2014,Feb.). New Horizons Report > 2014 Higher Education Edition. Retrieved from http://www.nmc.org/publications/2014-horizon-report-higher-ed

Digital Union

The Digital Union, part of the Ohio State Office of Distance Education and eLearning (ODEE), offers locations across campus to help faculty, staff, and students create materials. Each Digital Union location offers top of the line computers, software, and assistance to ensure productivity.

Digital Union

The primary Digital Union locations are located in Hagerty Hall, Prior Hall, and Stillman Hall. ODEE is showcasing these newly designed learning spaces and recently hosted a series of Discovery Days to outline the features of each location. To learn more about the Digital Union locations or about Discovery Days, please select the links below:

ODEE Digital Union

Digital Union Discovery Days

If you have any questions about the Digital Union or in general, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Flipped Though Design

The Fisher Educational Technology Team is constantly staying on top of the latest research and trends in education. The “Flipped Classroom” model of instruction has generated discussion around the world of education. Numerous articles have been written documenting experiences surrounding this method of teaching. The one piece that has been missing from this discussion is a sound framework to design a “Flipped” course using proven design principals. Instructional Design provides a proven framework to design all types of instruction and these principals can be used to design a “Flipped” course.

Flipped_through_Design_Icon

Recognizing a need, the Fisher Educational Technology Team designed a framework to “flip” a course through Instructional Design. The end result was an iTunes U course, an iBook, and an ePub. The iTunes U course outlines the “Flipped Classroom” model of instruction and Instructional Design framework. Using this background, the course presents activities to design a “Flipped” course based upon proven design principals.

Within the content of the iTunes U course are the iBook and ePub. The iBook (For use on iOS devices) and the ePub (For use on any e-reader device) contain all of the content knowledge of the framework to “flip” a course through Instructional Design without all of the objectives and activities contained in the course.

If you would like to explore these resources, please view and subscribe to the Flipped Through Design course on iTunes.

Flipped Through Design iTunes U Couse Direct Link

If you have any questions about the “Flipped Classroom” or in general, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.

Where to Get Help

With new technology tools being developed constantly it is increasing more difficult to stay up to date. Time is always at a premium and that is why the Office of Distance Education and eLearning (ODEE) released the Resource Center.

ODEE Resource Center

The ODEE Resource Centers contains information, guides, and videos about technology tools that are supported around campus. Some of these tools include Carmen, Carmen Connect, Mediasite, and U.OSU.EDU. The ODEE Resource Center is linked below.

ODEE Resource Center

Keep in mind that the Educational Technology Team at Fisher is here to answer any questions that you may have on emerging trends and tools in education. To learn more about our services, please visit our site linked below.

Fisher Educational Technologies

If you would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting or have an individual question, please contact the Fisher ITS Helpdesk.