BlendKit 2017: Reading Reaction: Chapter 02

Reflection on Chapter 2; Blended Interactions

Managing a classroom with face-to-face (F2F) can be different from managing a virtual classroom. It is easy to detect the level of concentration and interest of the participants in F2F session. Therefore, interacting with students can be more straightforward and objective in F2F class. Furthermore,  the interaction become more challenging if the students in the online class are not responsive or lack of participation. Although poor response and lack of participation can also happen in F2F session, the teacher can identify the student and take appropriate action to get their attention.

Therefore, there is a need to understand the various models or approach for blended interaction. The traditional interaction approach of F2F cannot be simply used to manage a blended course. As mentioned in this chapter, educators must focus on connection-forming in learning and their role will be in guiding, directing, and evaluating the activities of learners. The critical success factor of blended interaction is on Techno Expression during course design.

Techno expression is to keep interaction in the front of an educator mind while designing a blended course. Educator should not focus on uploading materials and expect students to read and understand the materials by themselves but to create a threaded discussion for the students to review the materials/syllabus. This can be done in the form of assignment or extended discussion in the F2F session.

In summary, the blended interaction should be complimentary to the F2F interaction for the best learning outcome. I think this is very much referring to the flipped classroom approach in teaching.

Learning Styles Don't Actually Exist

Finding meaning from what you are learning is more important than having good memory or excellent sensory mode. The fun of learning sets in when you are able to understand the reason for doing so, value the information, make sense of what you are seeing/reading and try to apply it in your own settings.

I find that this TEDx Talks on "Learning styles & the importance of critical self-reflection" by Dr. Tesia Marshik very insightful to us as an educators and all the learners. I now learned that there is no such thing called 'learning styles' and in order for us to learn effectively, we need to find the reasons for you to learn something. Hence, critical self-reflection is important for us to benefits from the learning experience instead of relying on a variety of materials given.

Watch Dr. Marshik TEDx Talks here:

Screenshot from YouTube

Please share your view on this findings :)

Flipped Classroom: Can it create a better learning environment?

Last year, I was introduced to 'Flipped Classroom' by my mentor. It is an interesting teaching and learning method that I find very different from what I have gone through in my education path, as a student and a lecturer.

The flip is to turnaround the method we use in teaching into facilitating or coaching. Instead of students attending a class to learn from the teacher and then go back home to do revision, the students now learn by themselves at home on the topics assigned first. After that, they will attend the face-to-face session for discussion activities or participate in projects. To me, it is similar to the current lecture and tutorial system in many institutions but with a little bit of tweaks.

Flipped classroom tends to transfer the responsibilities of learning to the students where knowledge can now flow directly to them without going through the teacher. Students will now play a more proactive role and self-independent learning in order to be benefit from the tutorial session.

To understand this better, you can watch the below short video on Flipped Classroom.

Share your view on this teaching and learning method. Do you think it is useful for your students (environment)? Why? Please comment :)

First time login to the Course Networking CN

Last year, I was introduced by my institution to embark on the use of Course Networking (CN) for e-learning purposes. This is to create an on-line platform for teaching and learning in Higher Education. Since then, I have been a fan of the CN and have been using it as part of my course delivery tools.

Recently, I have conducted a workshop for my colleagues on "CN for Starters". I would like to share some of the basic tips here for you to kick-start your learning journey on the CN. (I will not explain in details what is CN all about but you can find out yourself on their website - as below).

Firstly, you need to have an account. You can sign up yourself or your institution will provide for your an account. If your account are given by an institution, you will see the institution identity on top-left (red circle).

After you have logged in, you will come to the home page. A few navigation that you need to be familiar with. On top navigation bar (pink underline, from left to right) you can see your notification, email, people who choose to follow you, the list of courses you are taking, help page, the link to your CN profile page and setting button. Click on it to explore them and you can click on your institution logo to go back to the Home page any time.

The blue circle area on left-vertical bar will show all your active courses. Well, the interface is very much similar to other social network site such as Facebook and Linkedin. You just need a few attempt to use it to get familiar with it.

That's it for now. Next, I will share with you on how to create your very own profile page on the CN.