TRANSITION TO TELEPRESENCE. One teacher s foray into the digital divide

Transcription

1 TRANSITION TO TELEPRESENCE One teacher s foray into the digital divide

2 BACKGROUND Training Experience Raised rural, working rural

3 PRAIRIELAND REGIONAL DIVISION #25

4 PLRD#25 borders within Special Areas* My classroom* *Approximate sizes

5 THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE

6 THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN

7 WHAT IS VIDEO CONFERENCING AND/OR TELEPRESENCE TEACHING? A way for smaller high schools to offer a full complement of secondary courses that are dynamic teacher-led and interactive, rather than resorting to static distance learning or correspondence type courses. The advantages of this modality include: Being able to tailor course material and delivery to the students needs, Exposing students to real-life scenarios of working with off-site colleagues, Ensuring the viability of high school programming, Keeping students in their home communities rather than them seeking out educational alternatives away from home.

8 PRECONCEPTIONS It s Too Hard! Teachers I feel like I have inadequate support, time or buy-in for it. Students I can t learn without a teacher standing next to me in the classroom. Parents Is my student going to be successful?

9 REALITY Easy strategies to combat this preconception Get prepared Teachers: content and delivery, Students: how to use the software and hardware. Result: Increased confidence! Share the positives Nothing breeds success like success! Parent immersion Taste of VC to experience learning in the way their children are or will be Rationale: if parents are able to walk away from it with a good experience, they are more likely to be supportive of it with their children.

10 STUDENT FEEDBACK Question: What item(s), strategy(ies), software or hardware did you find most beneficial in delivering this telepresence(video conference) course? Why? I think the setup on Moodle was very good to use as well as the presentations and activities on the Smartboard. I think it was very easy to navigate on Moodle, and find what to do and where to hand your assignments is in one place. I think that without Moodle this course would be impossible because it is so helpful to let us know when the due dates are, and where we can find our assignments. There was nothing that I felt was a hindrance to this class. The ability to have the laptops to make it (the course) easier.

11 PRECONCEPTIONS It s too Time-Consuming! I spend all my time planning and digitizing material. It s even worse if I forget something and have to quickly recreate it for the off-site students. Are we really getting value for our time?

12 REALITY Planning IS time-consuming, but key. Understanding administrators are necessary Once it s done, the content can easily be reused or modified for the next time that course is offered.

13 PRECONCEPTIONS It s a second-rate education! Availability and immediacy of access to teachers and content Can t easily get questions answered or extra help if needed Off-site students forgotten

14 REALITY Availability Via or phone Online chat sessions for studying or extra help Varying questioning styles VOIP phones in classrooms Lunch time and after school study sessions Awareness to engage remote students in discussion and questioning Teacher being aware of self in relation to visibility and volume Don t differentiate between on and offsite students Site visits Annual junior high ABY Campus field trip Common days Common spirit days

15 STUDENT FEEDBACK Question: What were the best strategies that your teacher employed to make the course and/or the delivery most successful for you? E.g. choice of style of project presentation (PPT, text, poster), use of digital media, cloze notes exercises I think singling us out and asking us questions was one of the best ways to learn things, even if we get it wrong.

16 CHANGES FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING Effectively Engaging students Be a human presence in the classroom Basic Ways to Connect Acknowledge students at all sites Set up questioning practices at beginning of course Acknowledge questions

17 Better Ways to Connect Model David Ausubel s Thought Organizers Activity Changes Contact Information

18 CHANGES FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING Digital readiness Moodle Brigit Cloud software E.g. Dropbox, Glogster, Google suite Share and create content Find their own solutions Gain the skills and capabilities to find the answers they need Exposure to many pieces of productive and purposeful software

19 CHANGES FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING Time Factor Digitize course materials Organize them on Moodle Become more digitally competent Content will be there ready for the next time I teach that course Virtual marking a bit more time consuming

20 CHANGES FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING Classroom management Stays the same and works Seating arrangements Clear rules and expectations Popcorn reading & questioning Parental contact A letter home at beginning of course to outline content, delivery and introduce teacher Fair and equitable treatment of all

21 CHANGES FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING Classroom management Changes but works Extra content in Moodle Switch attention to offsite and ignore the onsite Change up activities regularly Questioning Use graphical learning objects or musical clips Have phone numbers to offsite schools, principals and classrooms, AND be willing to use them Contact offsite principals for both the positive and the challenges that arise in your classroom Regular supervisory visits by offsite principal or designate Site visits Scanner/printer/ combo machine available in the room

22 REWARDS Student Rewards Experience more independence in learning Experience different teachers and teaching styles Flexibility with curricular options Flexibility with extra-curricular opportunities

23 STUDENT FEEDBACK Question: What was your most positive experience in this term s class? Why? I think meeting new people, because making friends is good and I talk to them a lot. The most positive experience would be the different forms of technology that we used. My most positive experience in this term's class was being able to have a class bigger than five. It allows for more opinions/ ideas. Getting to work with teachers and peers from other schools and getting to hear different opinions on subjects. Whenever I got 80 or over because that is a mark I aim for or whenever I handed in an essay. Those are difficult to write, and when you feel you've written one well it s a positive feeling. Learning about Canada s past so we don t repeat their mistakes.

24 THEIR ADVICE TO THE NEXT GROUP (I COULDN T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF...) Pay attention like you would if a teacher was actually in the room -Become familiar with new technologies -Try and become comfortable with having a class and teacher through the screen Pay attention in class...it comes back to haunt you on tests. -Do your assignments to the best of your ability, and don't be afraid to go the extra mile. It helps a lot. -Get involved in class discussions. You get to hear different opinions and views on different matters, and it can be really interesting and beneficial. Stop making excuses and get your assignments in. No boss in the real world will hire you for being lazy. - Things are harder to learn when you don't enjoy them, so just be positive about the situation and try your best. That's what counts.

25 REWARDS Professional Rewards Upgrade knowledge, skills and attributes related to content, delivery and technology Satisfaction in assisting students Career stagnation relieved Leadership role assumed

26 REWARDS Personal Rewards A return to making connections with youth, and sharing my love of my subject matter A return to a rural setting with viable opportunity to remain Giving back to my community Confidence boost

27 ELA 20: Youngstown & Altario Fall 2012

28 ELA 10: Altario, Berry Creek, Youngstown Fall 2013

29 Social 20: Altario & Youngstown Fall 2012

30 Sustainable Challenging Connected Vibrant Engaging WHAT I VE COME TO DISCOVER...

31 VALUE ADDED Faculty Guide for Telepresence Teaching, Contact info for Jennifer McCormick Teach long and prosper!