Session 5 - Week 9
In Summary
Efacilitation Preparation
Our group Jonassen was my designated to work on the topic Online Learning in Higher Education in the Pacific Islands. This week was quite intense knowing the teaching and learning activities going on with the courses I managed, however, I managed to work on three key requirements for the week.
1. Task on Moodle Shell
Our group began preparations on creating a Moodle shell for our eFacilitation exercise which is part of Assignment 4. The general task for this activity was to distribute the tasks accordingly to all members and my task was to prepare the learning and teaching resources for the last part of our eFacilitation. This was session 4 which focused on the future for online learning for Pacific Island countries. I began my research on the topic and got some interesting insights:
Online learning is the future of education–at all levels, but especially in higher education. As the concept of distance learning evolves from cassette tape and telephone learning to high-speed, interactive Internet lessons, more doors are opened for students for whom traditional classroom learning simply does not work. The following trends will likely take hold in the next five years, allowing more students access to high-quality education from any location.
- Mobile Learning
In the past, trying to access online course material on anything besides a desktop or laptop computer was nightmarish, with distorted, pixelated screens and slow load times. In the future, all online course materials will be just as easy to access on a handheld device as on traditional devices, with special educational apps to help facilitate instruction.
-. Blended learning
Creative learning approaches aren’t exclusive to online learning platforms, but now, flipped classrooms and other blending learning approaches are beginning to take hold. The flipped classroom tasks students with completing most work outside of the physical classroom, reserving all-time in class for intense, meaningful interaction with faculty.
2.Work on Assignment 3
I had collected some reading on Lecture Captures but before this I watched several YouTube videos of Lecture captures and to my amazement saw how this ICT learning tool is changing the lives of students in many lecture theater across the world. I began noting down my notes that I would need to assist me in my research.
Session 5 A- Week 10
In Summary
Efacilitation
1. eFacilitation Moodle page
This week was an amazing week of compiling the eFacilitation activities as our group work on creating our Moodle page. The Moodle page that the group created is titled as Online Learning in Higher Education in the Pacific Island Countries. I had to input my contributions for my session which is session 4 that I am responsible for preparing its learning and teaching resources.
In preparation for this, I further engaged in research for my topic and found some interesting insights:
1. The use of online and distance learning is critical to the development of the small island developing states (SIDS) of the Pacific where remoteness is a key challenge to a region which spans one-third of the earth’s surface and consists of thousands of islands located far and wide across the Pacific. Goal 4 of the SDG’s ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all’, is also addressed by the availability of online and distance learning. Many Pacific women unable to further their education off-island because of various reasons such as family commitments, cost or distance; are enabled by on-line and distance learning to continue to post graduate levels. Traditionally in the Pacific; university and post graduate studies required locals to go to New Zealand, Australia or Fiji for a number of years. Now there are choices of going off island or staying back and still access and progress through online or distance mode. (Kruse Vaái, 2017)
For more readings refer to https://jl4d.org/index.php/ejl4d/article/view/207/201
2. Affordable access to higher education is a major challenge for small Pacific island nations. The University of the South Pacific which is owned and governed by twelve island nations in this region plays a special role in meeting this challenge. In its fiftieth year, a few recent developments at USP provide a useful case study for how this challenge can be addressed to provide affordable access to educational opportunity for residents of twelve Pacific Island nations in various stages of development
For more readings refer to https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1197516.pdf
3. On the other hand, there are some issues and challenges that have slowed the rate of implementation of eLearning platform across the Pacific; this includes the effectiveness of the learning systems. The implementation of the eLearning systems is hindered by lack of awareness among the target population, particularly the parents who have a tendency of preferring the traditional classroom model (Githens, 2007; Farid et al., 2014).
More reading refer to https://elearningindustry.com/elearning-in-the-pacific-democratizing-education
2. Assignment 3 Progress
Work continued from week 9 in preparing resources for assignment three and this week I began researching on the introduction to online education and the history of lecture capture here at USP. Thanks! to some available readings on lecture capture I was able to formulate my sub topics on Lecture capture.
Some interesting facts about lecture capture are as follows:
Over the past decade or so higher education institutions have rapidly adopted digital technologies like lecture captures or recorded lectures to transform the learning and teaching landscapes (Bhartu, 2016)
In a growing number of institutions, lecture capture is transitioning from optional to a standard component of every class, driven largely by student demand. And as video technology itself moves toward commoditization (with cameras that are ever more capable and affordable and storage costs that only fall with time), and a wave of new classroom pedagogies tap video to enable new learning experiences (Panopto, 2017)
At the University of the South Pacific (USP) lecture capture project was introduced in 2017. CFL and Information Technology System (ITS) used this system to capture Face to Face undergraduate courses at Laucala Campus in the first phase of the project. Together with the introduction of (Big Blue Button) BBB and Camtasia, lecturers are able to capture lectures on their laptops (screen and audio) during the session. The recording was then edited and broken down into parts. These were uploaded for students to download.
3. Begin work on Micro-LED
This week also I began work on the Micro LED which involves mapping out what will be the presentation focus. I was able to formulate my topic which was focused around my area of teaching that is resource conservation and management. The content of learning was to formulate context specific solutions for the sustainable use, conservation and management of natural resources. To begin with, I began research into this task and was able to formulate the convectional and the humanistic definitions.
Session 5 B- Week 11
In Summary
Efacilitation
1. eFacilitation Moodle page
This week was an amazing week of compiling the eFacilitation activities as our group work on creating our Moodle page that is due for us to present in week 12. The Moodle page that the group created is titled as Online Learning in Higher Education in the Pacific Island Countries. I had to input my contributions for my session which is session 4 that I am responsible for preparing its learning and teaching resources. I continued work on my session by finalizing my teaching and learning resources for this section.
2. Assignment 3 Progress
Work continued from week 10 in preparing resources for assignment three and this week I work identifying key research work in relation to lecture capture in the region.
In a survey by Elliot and Neal (2016) done in 2012-2013 across a top ten ranked UK university, data they collated indicate that the number of distinct students on the Moodle on weeks before major tests and exams. They also mention that the number of students viewing increased overtime presumably reflecting the students’ growing recognition of the value of lecture recordings.
These were findings that were generally gathered from students’ thoughts on lecture captures:
1.Wanted lecture recordings available for every lecture, across all modules taken
2.Some students found lecture recordings useful, if they could not attend a lecture for whatever
reason, but more significantly, many students highlighted how watching the recordings helped them revise and understand material they struggled to comprehend in the lecture.
3.Students made greater use of the lecture recordings in the days preceding tests and examinations so that they can gain better understanding of the material, developing notes taken in class.
4.Recordings enabled students to produce better quality notes after a lecture
5.Resource was particularly valuable for students with learning difficulties.
6.A weakness highlighted was that the recordings did not capture lecturers pointing at specific areas on a lecture whiteboard.
3. Micro LED preparations
This week also I continued work on the Micro LED which involves identifying issues relating to resource use and conservation. There were several issues identified in this context involves issues with fishing practices, loss of forest and climate change. Acquiring information on this to see how context specific based solutions can be used to address such issues.
Session 5 C- Week 12
In Summary
Efacilitation
1. eFacilitation Moodle page
This week was a great week of eFacilitation activities as our group presented the Moodle page we created and we also lead the discussion in the ED403 Moodle page. The Moodle page that the group created was titled as Online Learning in Higher Education in the Pacific Island Countries. I presented my notes on session 4 which was on the future of online learning.
Work continued from week 11 in preparing resources for assignment three and this week I work on researching the use of lecture capture in the teaching and learning process here at USP.
3. Advantages of e-learning in education
The online learning style is best suited for all. This is a revolution in learning genre. The information, now, can be accessed, talked, absorbed and shared anywhere. E-Learning has made education easy for everyone including office-goers, housewives etc without compromising much.
- E-Learning is effective and powerful. It makes information easy to grasp and absorb. It imparts enhanced ability to learn and implement among the learners. The Audio-Visuals help in remembering knowledge for a longer time.
- E-Learning let you be in sync with modern learners. This keeps you updated with the current trends.
Traditional classrooms, have mischievous elements to disturb the class. Whereas, eLearning provides expeditious delivery of lessons. There is no procrastinator in eLearning. It is a quick way of learning!
Lectures can be taken at any time and any number of times. In traditional classes, revisions are not that easy. Unlike traditional learning, if you have missed any lesson, you can always have it online.
- E-Learning allows teachers a higher degree of coverage to deliver the content regularly. This ensures consistency in learning.
- E-Learning is cost-effective as this method quick and easy. Long training period, infrastructure, stationary, travel expense etc is reduced.
- It is a benefactor to those who feel nervous and disconnected in groups. It helps you learn without having to give up the comforts of the environment you are at ease with.
Session 5 - Week 13 - 14
In Summary
Consolidation Weeks
As another productive semester comes to an end, I am in awe of how the 12 weeks passed by with continuous engagement with the course assessments. In all honesty, I am an 'old school Teacher' and being introduced to technology with this course and how we can use them to our teaching and learning process was eye opening.
The innovations that ICT has brought in the teaching and learning process includes: E-learning, e-communication, quick access to information, online student registration, online advertisement, reduced burden of keeping hard copy, networking with resourceful persons, etc.
However, the presence of all these factors increased the chance of excellent integration of ICT in teaching-learning process. Therefore, the training of teaching staff in the pedagogical issues and administrators in administration should be increased if teachers and administrators are to be convinced of the value of using ICT in their teaching-learning process and administration. I am personally convinced that the use of digital learning tools in the classroom has changed the landscapes of teaching and learning.
References :
https://www.thetechedvocate.org/future-online-learning-higher-education/
https://www.edsys.in/e-learning-how-its-important-to-our-education-system/
