The Intersection and Alignment of Learner-Centered Instructional Strategies in Online Learning and their implementation using Course Management Systems

NLII Focus Session, March 2003Nada Dabbagh

George Mason University

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Presentation Outline How are teaching practices and

learning activities conceptually related? What are some theory-based design

implications for online learning based on the principles of deep learning?

What features of course management systems support the implementation of learner-centered practices?

How are teaching practices and learning activities conceptually related?

Teaching practices = Instructional strategies

Instructional strategies are what instructors or instructional systems do to facilitate student learning “the plans and techniques that the

instructor/instructional designer uses to engage the learner” (Jonassen, Grabinger, and Harris (1991)

“they connect learning theory to instructional practice” (Shuell, 1980)

Examples of Instructional Strategies

Promoting collaboration Providing feedback Providing advanced organizers Sequencing instruction Recalling prerequisite knowledge Gaining attention Providing guidance

Beliefs

Learning Theories

PedagogicalModels

Instructional Strategies

Learning Activities

Theory-based Design Framework

OnlineLearning

Pedagogical Models

Learning TechnologiesInstructional Strategies

Three Component Online Learning Model

What are some theory-based design implications for online learning based on the principles of deep learning?

Learning requires ownership Learning encourages engagement Learning is a social process Learning is contextual or situated Learning is an active process

OnlineLearning

Pedagogical Models open/flexible learning distributed learning situated learning communities of practice knowledge building communities asynchronous learning networks

Learning TechnologiesAsynchronous/synchronous communication tools hypermedia, multimedia Web development tools Groupware Video conferencing Course management systems

Instructional Strategies collaboration social negotiation exploration articulation reflection role-playing problem solving

Three Component Online Learning Model

Mapping Learner-Centered Instructional Strategies to Web Features

Link to:http://mason.gmu.edu/~ndabbagh/wblg/matrix1.

htm

Promoting scaffolding

Promoting modeling & explaining

Promoting coaching

Promoting reflection

Promoting Role-playing

Promoting multiple perspectives

P

Promoting articulation

Promoting collaboration & social negotiation

Promoting hypothesis generation

Promoting exploration

Promoting problem solving

Promoting authentic learning activities

Learner-Centered

Instructional Strategies

Promoting self-directed learning

Hierarchical Intersection and Lateral Alignment of Instructional Strategies

Promoting authentic learning activities

Exploratory Dialogical Learner Guidance

Promoting self-directed learning

Intersection & Alignment of Instructional Strategies Promoting authentic learning activities:

Real world relevance Ill-defined and complex Competing solutions, equally viable Multiple knowledge domains & skills Multiple & diverse levels of expertise Use of a variety of resources Sustained period of time Diversity of learning outcomes

Intersection & Alignment of Instructional Strategies Promoting exploratory-type activities:

Problem solving Hypotheses generation Exploration Role playing

Promoting dialogical-type activities: Articulation Reflection Collaboration Multiple perspectives

Intersection & Alignment of Instructional Strategies Providing learner guidance:

Scaffolding Modeling & explaining Coaching

Promoting self-directed learning: the skill of “learning how to learn” or being

metacognitively aware of one’s own learning Having an awareness of how learning is

carried out and the ability and desire to plan and regulate one’s learning process

What features of CMS support these learner-centered Instructional Strategies?

Pedagogical Classification of CMS Features:

1. Collaborative and Communication Tools

2. Content Creation and Delivery Tools 3. Administrative Tools 4. Learning Tools5. Assessment Tools

Features of CMS Collaborative & Communication Tools:

Include asynchronous communication tools, synchronous communication tools, and group tools

Content Creation & Delivery Tools: Include tools for instructors that enable them

to deliver course content and resources, and tools for learners that enable them to contribute course content, submit assignments, and interact with course resources

Features of CMS Administrative Tools:

includes tools to manage students and student information, manage teaching assistants, manage student groups, set course features

Learning Tools: Includes tools that enable learners to

manipulate content online and create personalized experiences during the learning process in contrast to tools that allow learners to post the end-products of their learning in a Presentation area or Dropbox.

Features of CMS Assessment Tools:

Includes tools primarily for instructors to assess student learning, e.g., the ability to create programmed quizzes or tests that are generally true/false, multiple choice, matching, ordering, or fill-in-the-blank

Most course management systems integrate assessment tools that are objectivist in nature

What features of CMS support these learner-centered Instructional Strategies

Link to the book: Online Learning: Concepts, Strateg

ies, and Application http://www.it.gse.gmu.edu/ollbook This link is password protected and can be

obtained with purchase of the book which will be published in January 2004 by Merrill Education Prentice Hall Publishing

Upon publication, the URL will change to http://www.prenticehall.com/dabbagh

CMS: Next Generation Pedagogical limitations:

emphasis on faculty dissemination tools over student processing tools (Oliver, 2001)

not meant to be a pedagogical tool, but rather a productivity tool for handling the administrative tasks of teaching (Olsen, 2001)

lack the flexibility to support certain instructional activities satisfactorily (e.g., group-based production of academic deliverables) and/or fail to include certain features instructors may want (e.g., seamless integration with other software) (Klemm, 2001)

CMS: Next Generation Pedagogical limitations:

impede the design of more learner-centered, constructivist course designs (Harvey & Lee, 2001; Marra & Jonassen, 2001)

the inability to support (1) multiple forms of knowledge representation, (2) authentic forms of assessment, and (3) the use of distributed tools that assist students in knowledge construction and meaning making (Marra & Jonassen, 2001)

Most CMS users tend to choose the most obvious and easily accessible components and features of a CMS to expedite the development of online courses compromising sound pedagogy (Harvey & Lee, 2001)

CMS: Next Generation If faculty and course designers take the

time to redesign their existing courses when using CMS, through a comprehensive examination of their features and the careful integration of the learning activities afforded by these features, much of the replication of traditional face-to-face classroom instruction can be avoided and instructional designs that are learner-centered will emerge.

References• Oliver, K. (2001). Recommendations for student tools in online course management

systems. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, vol. 13(1), 47-70.• Olsen, F. (2001). Getting Ready for a New Generation of Course-Management Systems.

Chronicle of Higher Education, December 21, 2001.• Harvey, D.M. & Lee, J. (2001). The impact of inherent instructional design in online

courseware. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, vol. 2(1), 35-48.• Klemm, W.R. (2001). Creating online courses: A step-by-step guide. The Technology

Source, May/June 2001.• Marra, R.M. & Jonassen, D.H. (2001). Limitations of online courses for supporting

constructive learning. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, vol. 2(4), 303-317.• Shuell, T.J. (1980). Learning theory, instructional theory, and adaptation. In R. E. Snow,

P. A. Federico, & W. E. Montague (Eds.), Aptitude, Learning and Instruction (vol. 1, pp. 277-301). Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

• Jonassen, D.H., Grabinger, R.S., & Harris, N.D.C. (1991). Instructional strategies and tactics. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 3(2), pp. 29-47.