twsia 2012 - jaclyn schildkraut

June 10-15, 2012

Growing Community; Growing Possibilities

Using Sakai To Teach Undergraduate Crime

Theory & VictimizationJaclyn SchildkrautTexas State University

San Marcos, Texas

2012 Jasig Sakai Conference

Texas State University, by way of the University of Central Florida

Research Interests

Teaching Experiences

Teaching Philosophy

Background


CJ 4340 is an undergraduate level core class, providing students an overview of an array of criminological theories and concepts

Taught Spring, 2012

Traditional face-to-face class

33 students enrolled (22 male, 11 female)◦ Mostly junior and senior level students (1 freshman, 1 sophomore)

Meet My Class


Create a positive and engaging learning environment

Challenge students to employ critical thinking and reasoning skills

Make the material fun

Make the material accessible

Course Goals


Creating a Positive and EngagingLearning Environment

Announcement Postings, Online Article Discussion Blogs and Online Study Groups using the Sakai Platform


How can I encourage student participation as well as ownership/investment in the course?◦ An encouraging an engaging environment should also

encourage reflection and cooperation and allow students the opportunity to “have the floor”

Fostering A Learning Environment


How can I encourage student participation as well as ownership/investment in the course?◦ An encouraging an engaging environment should also

encourage reflection and cooperation and allow students the opportunity to “have the floor”

Incorporating Sakai:◦ The Announcements feature was used to always keep

students in the loop◦ The Forums feature was used both for Online Article

Discussion Blogs as well as Online Study Groups in preparation for exams

Fostering A Learning Environment


Announcements


Forum Discussions


Forum Discussions

Permission for use by student received 6/4/12 via email.


Critical Thinking & Reasoning SkillsApplication Papers


Students were to select a theory and apply its concepts to a criminal justice topic of interest

Application Paper Assignments


Students were to select a theory and apply its concepts to a criminal justice topic of interest

Incorporating Sakai:◦ Students submitted their papers through the Assignments

feature◦ Papers could be downloaded, annotated, and uploaded back

to students with comments◦ Provided individual, personalized feedback to students




Student’sOriginal Submission

My ResponsesOn OriginalSubmission PlusGrading Rubric



Application Paper AssignmentsSample Completed RubricStudent’s Paper with Feedback



Making the Material FunSupplemental Multimedia


Challenges of a “dry” or “bland” subject matter◦ How can I make criminological theory, with concepts ranging

from the 1700s to the 1970s, interesting to Generation Y?

Making The Material Interesting


Challenges of a “dry” or “bland” subject matter◦ How can I make criminological theory, with concepts ranging

from the 1700s to the 1970s, interesting to Generation Y?

Incorporating Sakai:◦ In addition to showing videos in class, links can be posted right

online so students can go back and re-watch the videos on their own time

◦ For longer videos or multi-segment videos, this feature is also beneficial due to class time constraints



Making the Material AccessibleTRACS (Sakai) Organization Feature


Teaching 2.0 Any time, any place Maintaining class organization

Accessibility for the “Net Generation"


Teaching 2.0 Any time, any place Maintaining class organization

Incorporating Sakai:◦ Ease of toolbar for various site features◦ Course material could be organized by week and/or topic

through the Resources feature◦ Using it on the go

Accessibility for the “Net Generation"


Course Site Organization

All course links are prominentlydisplayed for ease of access


Course Site Organization


Results of Sakai ImplementationThe effectiveness of TRACS in meeting the goals of the course


Increased class participation, both through the web components and also in the face-to-face meetings

Improved scores on application papers for second submissions

Higher test scores for those who more actively participated in the Online Study Group activity

Increased interest in the course materials and better retention of information

The Effectiveness of Sakai Integration

twsia 2012 - jaclyn schildkraut

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