Session 5: E-Facilitation Practicum

Bula Vinaka All,

Welcoming you to my fifth and final blog for ED403, focusing on the Efacilitation practicum that we had to participate in as a group, and in my case, I'm with Team Illich.

This session focuses on developing and delivering a module online through the Moodle shell that was assigned to the group. In here, the group will take charge and facilitate learning for the whole PGCTT Semester 1 2024 cohort.

Below is a snapshot of the group's Moodle shell on the course name: GEM401 Gemini AI in Higher Education.

In preparation for this practicum, the group:

1. agreed to work on a topic that is related to any Generative AI tools that are being used in Higher education, which is Gemini AI
2. distributed tasks on the components that need to be discussed and covered in the Moodle shell
3. created a storyboard as part of planning to ensure that everything is highlighted
4. Using the rubric as a guide, the team ensured that all areas were addressed and fulfilled at the highest level

During the e-Facilitation week, the tasks included:

1. The teacher on duty was responsible for the course for the day and ensured that all queries were answered 
2. This included making announcements to guide the students and to remind them of the pending tasks and assessments that need to be completed before the end of the week.

Post e-facilitation, the tasks included:

1. composing feedback to students by using Moodle analytics
2. email a PDF copy of this feedback with the analytics to the students and Course Coordinator.

This practicum has been an exciting and eye-opener especially on the use of different AI tools in higher education and learning about their benefits, challenges, and even limitations of these tools that we, as educators, need to be aware of when teaching and even allowing them to be used for learning.

Source: Twitter by  Helen Hockx-Yu

I wanted to share with you the above picture on future use or even trends in the use of AI tools in  

higher education and also a new article published on the detection of AI tools use in higher education.

From the new paper - "GenAI Detection Tools, Adversarial Techniques and Implications for Inclusivity in Higher Education"

– The overall accuracy of the AI text detectors is 39.5%;

– Adversarial text attacks could reduce this to 22%;

– Only 67% of the text written by the person was labeled as "Real"

Thank You.

Session 4 - E-Learning in Higher Education

Bula Vinaka All,

This would be my fourth blog for ED403 that focuses on Innovations in Learning Technologies and Professional Practice.

Electronic learning, or e-learning, is the term for the use of technology to transmit instructional materials and enable teacher-student communication. Online classes, virtual classrooms, and digital resources including films, animations, and interactive tests are all examples of eLearning programs. As technology has advanced and the demand for flexible learning options has grown, eLearning programs have taken on a significant role in education. Effective eLearning program design and implementation, however, can be difficult. 

Source: Shift eLearning

This session has 2 assessments which are

1. Microteaching (and Micro-LED) and E-facilitation– 
2. E-Learning Case Study.

With Micro-Teaching, we are to prepare a 5-minute video on the lesson plan for the microteaching session. Below is the video of my lesson plan that will be the content of my online teaching on the coming Tuesday (30th April 2024).

Video: Lesson Plan for Micro-Teaching Session

Following this lesson plan, we are to conduct our online teaching (via an online platform) where our group members are the students for the session and assessors since this assessment facilitates peer assessment and self-evaluation. The 5-minute video lesson plan needs a few improvements when carrying out my online teaching.  

The e-facilitation assignment is a combination of individual and group effort. We are expected to design, develop, and deliver a module online mode through the Moodle shell assigned to the group. During this designated e-facilitation week (for our group), we will take charge as a group and facilitate learning for the whole cohort.

Below is a snapshot of the link to the Moodle page that we (as a group) would need to work on to facilitate learning.

Figure 2: Snapshot of Link to Group Moodle Page

This session has been very intriguing as in my opinion, there is no better framework to examine how our relationship to technology is changing as digital technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives than education and lifelong learning.

Educational Technology:

The main issue with educational technology is the goal-setting process, which is handled from two angles: 

1. Setting diagnostic goals and objectively monitoring the pupils' learning of study materials;
2. fostering general personality development. 

Planning the educational outcomes in the form of systems of specialized abilities through task components is one method of increasing the specificity of pedagogic goals (table 1). 

Source: Studying innovation technologies in modern

education by NM Stukalenko, 2016.

From experience, the main takeaway message that we should note is:

Figure 4: ALT's Definition of Learning Technology

Professional Practice

The four guiding principles of ALT's approach are as follows:

1. dedication to sharing and communicating best practices; 
2. empathy and a readiness to learn from colleagues with varying backgrounds and specializations; 
3. a commitment to stay current with emerging technologies; and 
4. At the core, a commitment to investigating and comprehending the interaction between technology and learning (refer to figure 2).

Figure 5. Four Core Principles of Professional Practice

Conclusion:

Innovation in education arises from problem identification, observation and learning from others, development of novel approaches to these challenges, and iteration of these approaches when first experiments yield unsatisfactory results.

In the field of education, innovation can be:

1. Realizing that flipped classrooms, in which students hear lectures at home and complete tasks in class, are more beneficial for students.
2. Increasing the amount of technology used in the classroom to establish a blended learning environment where students interact with it as they would in the real world.
3. Offering more effective video solutions to enable parents in school districts to communicate with each other in a clearer and better manner.

 

Session 3 - E-Learning Trends in Higher Education: Learning Analytics; BYOD and mLearning; AR & VR

 Bula Vinaka Reader,

This session in ED403 is all about e-learning and it has been an interesting journey learning different technologies that are and can be used for learning in higher education.

My blog post will be about the Benefits of Using E-learning in Higher Education.

The delivery of education in universities has been completely transformed by eLearning. With the development of technology, students now have access to a variety of digital resources, including interesting courses that improve their educational experience. Free from the confines of traditional classroom environments, students can study at their own pace and convenience because of the freedom provided by eLearning. With the use of interactive tools like virtual classrooms and discussion boards, e-learning systems allow students to collaborate with peers from all over the world. Their views are widened, and an international learning community is fostered by e-learning. We'll look at some of the most important advantages of e-learning for institutions in this blog.

In a post made by Marilyn Schenk,  the top benefits of using e-learning in universities include:

1. Flexibility and Convenience - by enabling student to access course materials from the comfort of their homes or any location with strong internet connectivity rather than being physically present in class
2. Cost-Effectiveness - Infrastructure costs for traditional classroom-based learning can involve large financial outlays for things like tables, seats, and classrooms. However, eLearning does away with the necessity of actual classrooms and lowers the related expenses
3. Enhance Access and Reach - Students get access to lectures and course materials via eLearning at any time and from any location. For students whose hectic schedules prevent them from attending classes, it is advantageous. Students can learn at their own pace and convenience thanks to eLearning, which does away with the requirement for them to physically be present in the classroom.
4. Personalized Learning Experience - Students can be encouraged to explore and be creative in a personalized learning environment. Teachers can provide a learning experience that is specific to each student's needs and learning style by molding the curriculum to fit each student's needs, interests, and aptitudes.
5. Enhance Collaboration and Communication - eLearning platforms in universities facilitate improved communication and collaboration between teachers and students. Students can participate in meaningful discussions with their teachers and peers virtually using instant messaging, video conferencing, and online discussion boards, regardless of where they are physically located.
6. Integration of Multimedia and Interactive Learning - With eLearning, students can access a range of multimedia resources to gain a deeper comprehension of the subject matter, including podcasts, online simulations, and films.
7. Exposure to Technological Skills - Universities may foster a tech-savvy environment that stimulates student innovation and creativity by utilizing our eLearning offerings. Their academic path is enhanced and they are given the tools necessary to succeed in a world driven by technology thanks to this exposure to technological abilities.
8. Enhanced Time Management Skills - Students have more autonomy over their own time when they use eLearning. Students can study at their own speed and have access to lectures and course materials at any time. It gives them the capacity to more effectively manage their time, which improves their academic success.
9. Continuous Professional Development - One of the biggest advantages of e-learning in higher education is the opportunity for ongoing professional development. Students and faculty members can improve their knowledge and skills in their disciplines by using eLearning materials.

E-learning (through ED403) has allowed deeper learning on the use of technology for learning and one of the greatest advantages of using e-learning is that it enables universities to reach a larger audience, which may include students who would not be able to attend regular on-campus programs because of scheduling or geographic restrictions. It not only encourages diversity among students but also inclusivity.

Thank You.

Session 2 - Learning Resources & Technology

Bula Vinaka All,

I just wanted to share with you my experience with online teaching using a new simulation platform that was introduced to us during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021-2022.

In my teaching field, I am a convener for the Environmental Health students who are enrolled in the bachelor and postgraduate programs, and as part of the programs, students are required to participate in lab sessions for practicals. 

During this lockdown, we were introduced to Labster - a virtual simulation platform where students are given virtual scenarios on environmental-related projects and are allowed to participate (as per instructions given in the platform) to identify, determine, assess, and evaluate certain risks and even to participate on quizzes online through this platform. This was altogether exciting and challenging considering the infancy of the platform and also the geographical, technological, and network issues that students face to be able to access the platform online.

The experience learned and gained from this would be the realization that such tools and educational learning platforms play an important role in the delivery of education and also in ensuring that communication and participation of students are maintained irrespective of whether the delivery is through live participation or on student-paced.

Ever since the beginning of this course, ED403, I have been very excited to learn more about the use of learning technologies and integrate them into the delivery of my course content. Learning resources and technology are transforming education, making it more accessible, engaging, and effective than ever before. By providing a wide range of tools and platforms, such as online courses, interactive simulations, and collaborative tools, educators can cater to diverse learning styles and preferences. This flexibility fosters a more inclusive learning environment and enhances communication and collaboration among students and teachers.

As part of my learning through this session, I was able to enroll in an online course on Open Educational Resources by the Commonwealth of Learning and this has actually broadened my understanding of the use of OER and even its licenses and different conditions.

As a learning activity for this session, we are required to identify five (5) OER materials that we can use or apply in our learning and teaching activities, and from these five (5), I identified two (2) applicable OERs that would be the best materials that can be used for my teaching class, EVH 511 Foundations of Environmental Health.

1. Video Lecture on 'An Introduction to Global Health - Climate Change and Health'

The lecture explains dramatic changes brought about by climate unpredictability and change that are currently posing a threat to our planet and human systems. These include alterations in the dynamics of the environment and people that influence health. Therefore, it is believed that the largest threat to human health in the twenty-first century is climate change. The effects on health might be direct, usually linked to extreme weather events; indirect, linked to environmental damage and modifications brought on by climate change; or including social disturbance, war, and relocation. Several instances of how changes in the social and environmental determinants of health can have either positive or negative effects on health are given in this presentation. These effects include infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and mental health, which are particularly significant in vulnerable urban and rural environments and among vulnerable community groups exposed to fluctuations in precipitation and temperature.

This video lecture would be a good OER that can be used in my class on EVH 511 on Foundations of Environmental Health where it discusses how human activities contribute to climate change and then result in health impacts that can arise from such changes. This course mainly introduces the students to anthropogenic activities in general to meet the needs and wants for survival but at the same time, considers their impacts on the environment and in turn, affect human health.

If this will be used as a resource material in my class, it could serve as a learning and teaching resource for students to listen to and learn about how climate change (caused by human activities) affects human health.

License:  Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC-BY-NC-ND)

Source: OER Commons – Environmental Health Collection (https://oercommons.org/curated-collections/724)   

 2.     Textbook: Environmental Biology by Mathew R. Fisher

This book was published by Open Oregon in 2018 through the Open Textbook Library and is an open textbook that covers the most salient environmental issues, from a biological perspective. The Open Textbook Library is a repository where schools, faculty, and students can find free Open Educational Resource (OER) textbooks. The text is designed for an introductory-level college science course. Topics include the fundamentals of ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, food production, and human population growth." The book is organized into 11 chapters.

This book would be a very useful resource for my EVH511 students, who are in Year 1, studying Foundations of Environmental Health where students can refer to the book when learning about the current pressing environmental issues. The book will also help the students to grasp the scientific foundation of environmental topics so they can better understand the world around them and their impact upon it.

License: Creative Commons - Attribution (CC-BY) 3.0

Source: Environmental Health Sciences Libguide – Benedict College (https://benedict.libguides.com/c.php?g=1107292 )

Bibliography

1. Peter Furu. (2017). An Introduction to Global Health - Climate Change and Health. University of Copenhagen.
2. Fisher Openstax, M. R., Doršner, K., Geddes, A., Theis, T., & Tomkin, J. (2017). Environmental Biology. https://libraries.etsu.edu/research/guides/environmentalhealth

Session 1 Technology Enabled Learning (TeL) & Future of Learning Higher Education

This session introduces the theoretical underpinnings of technology-enabled Learning and how technology is changing the way we learn in Higher Education and the future. Relatable resources were made available in this session, which included videos and reading materials. 

This blog is part of the learning activity that we need to create, as ED403 students, to provide a brief reflection on the session.

Session Discussion Topic:

Discuss what new knowledge you have gained from reviewing the various videos and other resources from the introductory session. Explore how you think learning technologies will influence learning and the future of Higher Education globally and regionally (Pacific Islands context).

Week 1:
Reading through the resources online on the use of technology made me rethink my way of teaching. When considering using new technologies or an alternative delivery method, it will allow me to rethink my teaching, perhaps to be able to tackle some of the limitations of classroom teaching and to renew my approach to teaching. 
One of the ways that I believe would help me in the rethinking process is to think of how I can build a rich learning environment for the courses that I teach. This may include:
1.     Integrating design principles within a rich learning environment
2.     Learner characteristics
3.     Managing content
4.     Developing skills
5.     Learner support
6.     Resources
7.     Assessment of learning

Reading through the three (3) theoretical frameworks that focus on learning and teaching, several benefits have been gained from their applications:

Community of Inquiry:

• Collaboration

• Open Communication

Source: University of Buffalo

 
TPACK:

• improving teacher competency facilitates active learning, enhances student engagement, and integrates pedagogical, content, and technological elements in teaching and learning processes.

     Source: edtech-class.com 

 
TIM:

• a harmonious relationship among curriculum demands, student needs, and technology integration.

                                Source: Florida Centre for Instructional Technology

 
Week 2:
 
In the past decades, it is clearly understood that the integration of learning technologies in teaching and learning has increased within the higher education sector. Such technologies would include the use of Microsoft software, hardware like PCs, computers, laptops, multimedia projectors, and the use of internet applications or search engines like Google, Wikipedia, Twitter, etc.

For students, I believe that incorporating learning technologies into the classroom helps students gain capacities in information assessment, cooperation, communication, and problem-solving.

    Source:fordhamram.com 

For educators, the utilization of technologies can enhance the caliber of instruction by giving educators access to possibilities for professional growth. Furthermore, instructors now have flexible online learning options and the chance to modify and customize information to fit their teaching styles thanks to disruptive technologies like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Most educators think that incorporating learning technologies into their lessons would greatly improve their effectiveness. More precisely, they emphasized that incorporating learning technologies into their teaching methods would provide more opportunities for student engagement, which means that educational technology gives students opportunities to grow creatively and improve their critical thinking, reasoning, communication, and other higher-order thinking abilities.

                                                            Source:edWeb.net 

Technology integration improves both student and faculty flexibility in terms of learning modes while also enabling teachers to accommodate individual diversity in students' accomplishments, learning styles, and skills. The incorporation of technology into the classroom not only gives students and faculty greater freedom in terms of learning techniques, but also enables instructors to accept individual differences in students' successes, learning styles, and talents.

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog on Session 1 reflections. 

Reference:
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Qadri, M. A., & Suman, R. (2022). Understanding the role of digital technologies in education: A review. Sustainable Operations and Computers, 3, 275–285. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susoc.2022.05.004