synch and swim:

SYNCH AND SWIM:The Value of Synchronous Learning Environments (Interact! Build Community! Immediate feedback!)

Michael CoghlanBAW 201023/1/11

STRUCTURE OF SESSIONhistorical contextvalue of synchronous interactionskills required in a virtual classroom (brief)applications for synchronous activity (when can you use them?)

WHOS ONLINE TODAY?

Question:Are you

A) In your office?B) In a computer suite?C) At home?D) Other?

MULTIPLE VENUEPRESENTATIONS(MVPs)remote studentsguestlecturerCLASSROOM/F2F VENUEpublicspace

What is synchronous/asynchronous communication?SYNCHRONOUS (real time) eg f2f conversation, telephone calls, chat roomsASYNCHRONOUS some delay between initial communication and the reply eg letters, email, forums

Question:IS ANYONE TEACHING IN FULLY ONLINE MODE?

(Classroom + online = BLENDED LEARNING)

Synchronous approaches can be a valuable complement to face to face classes!

Changing MethodologyOnline/elearning:

Asynchronous (written) text based Content focused Asynch + synch more voice interactionand rich media Content can be co-created (produsers)ca 19982011

AsynchSynchOralWritten

Minimalist; rapid (evolving)

COMMUNICATION AXISSpontaneous;dialogueReflective; monologue

Structured; expository

COMMUNICATION AXISMost classroom communications take place hereNew have been enabled by technology (only happen online)

ASYNCHRONOUS VOICEVOICE BOARDSWimba: try the board at http://tinyurl.com/4lnh9fnFree2. Voxopop: Aiden Yehs Advanced Listening Group at http://tinyurl.com/4hzw2of3. Voicethread: examples at http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/9-12

The Original Synchronous Environment plain text chat

Web Conferencing/Virtual Classroom

Range of Synchronous ToolsInstant messengers: Google Talk, Skype, Yahoo, MSN (text + voice)Peer to Peer/Collaborative Tools: eg Etherpad (documents), Mind Mapping, Whiteboards, etcVirtual Classrooms Proprietary: Elluminate, Adobe Connect, etc Free: Wiziq, Vyew, Big Blue Button

Virtual Worlds: Second LifeSee Second Life in Education

Your Experience?Have you experienced the use of synchronous tools in online courses that you have either taught or studied?

Your Experience? How have synchronous tools been used in courses you have either taught or studied?small group work?one-on-one communications?whole class meetings?whole class instruction?other?

Use of Synchronous Tools SurveyPurpose of Interactions58% small group work37% one-on-one communications35% whole class meetings16% whole class instruction

(results at http:// michaelcoghlan.net/synch/surv_results.htm)

QuestionWhy do you think it is important to include synchronous tools in online courses?

Use of Synchronous Tools SurveyWhy are synchronous tools important?Approx 50/50 split between pedagogical and social/affective reasonsPedagogy: immediacy of feedback (30%)


Social/Affective BenefitsSocial, community, and personal engagementpersonal engagement/motivation (55%)community building (29%)improving the social experience (27%)


Tension: Synch v AsynchTerry Anderson, Toward a Theory of Online Learning: .the major motivation for enrollment in distance education is not physical access, but rather, temporal freedom to move through a course of studies at a pace of the students choice. Participation in (synchronous events) almost inevitably places constraints on this independence.The demands of a learning-centered context might at times force us to modify prescriptive participation in (synchronous events), even though we might have evidence that such participation will further advance knowledge creation and attention.

Resolving the tension between asynchronous and synchronous approaches

dont make synch sessions compulsory; use synch for those who want ituse tools that can record or archive the sessions for later retrieval dont use synchronous for whole class instructionuse for meetings, one-on-one, or in small groupsoffer informal (social) sessions in synch modeallow student use of synchronous spaceoffer office hours sessions at set times

Resolving the tension between asynchronous and synchronous approaches

Its not all or nothing use both approaches:Synch for social, spontaneous, decision makingAsynch for deliberation, reflection, considered opinion

The Instructional Challenge:Methodology: how do you use synchronous tools to maximise their impact?

Skills of the Live Online PresenterGolden Rule: 6-8 minutes talking at a stretch maximumIntersperse presentations with questions, polls, other speakers (from the floor), whiteboard activityDecide how to handle direct messaging will you monitor/respond? Or ignore it? Dip in and out of it?Consider working with a producer/co-presenterMore at http:// michaelcoghlan.net/fll/blog.htm#skills

What kinds of synchronous activities can you use in classrooms?TEACHINGstraight lectureGuest lecturersOral presentationsGroup workOne on one (eg pronunciation)

OTHEROffice hoursSocial: student - student

Synchronous Activities example 1Live discussion with a musician about their workOrganised by Webhead Aiden Yeh (Taiwan) and Michael Coghlan (Australia)

Synchronous Activities example 2Small Group Discussion - Intercultural CommunicationStreetlife Project organised by Webhead Anne Fox (Denmark) http://streetlife.homestead.com/

Synchronous Activities example 3Oral Presentationsorganised by Webhead Buthaina Al-Othman (Kuwait) http://alothman-b.tripod.com/wia_162finalproj.htm

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTConferences, seminarsWorkshops and Training sessionsMeetings (much more cost effective than teleconferencing)

NEAR SYNCHRONOUS TOOLS

Whats this?

Twitter as a real time search tool?

May 2008: Twitter beats media in reporting China earthquake." An almost real time search toolNow being used by some as an alternative search tool to Google

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29281982@N00/101951607/

TRACKING THE BACK CHANNELhttp://www.slideshare.net/mchaelc/tracking-the-back-channel

BACKCHANNEL TOOLSDirect or instant messaging in web conferencing tools (eg Centra, Elluminate)Live blogging tools like Cover It LiveLive polling tools like Poll EverywhereMicro Messaging tools: Twitter, Yammer

Cover It Live

POLLING TOOLS

Purdue University: In-house Applicationhttp://www.itap.purdue.edu/tlt/hotseat/

Can you use Twitter as teaching tool?

Teaching with Twitter (Steve Wheeler)

Twit Board Notify students of changes to course content, schedules, venues or other important information. (could be done with phone) Summing Up Ask students to read an article or chapter and then post their brief summary or prcis of the key point(s). A limit of 140 characters demands a lot of academic discipline. Twit Links Share a hyperlink a directed task for students each is required to regularly share one new hyperlink to a useful site they have

Micro Write Progressive collaborative writing on Twitter. Students agree to take it in turns to contribute to an account or story over a period of time.

Use the backchannel to provide feedback on classes in real time

http://www.flickr.com/photos/interplast/141013553/

Some ReferencesAnderson, Terry; Elloumi, Fathi: Theory and Practice of Online Learning (April 2004)http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/Coghlan, Michael; How important are synchronous tools in web-based teaching and learning environments? http://users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/synch/surv_discuss.htmCoghlan, Michael; Moderating Live Synchronous Sessions http://synchfacilitation.wikispaces.com/Finkelstein, Jonathan; Learning in Real Time http://www.learninginrealtime.com/Muirhead, Brent; Research Insights into Interactivity, International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning , March 2004 http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Mar_04/article05.htm

Contact Details

Michael Coghlanhttp://protopage.com/[email protected]

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