READY: Fall term 2011 has officially started! Although our students have been in class all summer taking Anatomy and Physiology, most of the faculty (other than Dr. Morris who was tres busy teaching) have been working on our classes and preparing for this fall term. The fall marks the beginning of physical therapy specific classes: Professional Issues in Physical Therapy, Clinical Applications of Anatomy, Essentials of Exercise Physiology, and Pharmacology. So this is exciting for the students as well as faculty. It also marks the first time most of us are really 'doing' hybrid in an entry level program. This is where we'll begin to evaluate if our strategies have been on target, what activities 'engage' students versus those that don't, and also how to manage a class that are geographically distant for 3.5 weeks. In a hybrid program, being ready is a lot more UP FRONT work compared to a traditional classroom. Materials need to be ready for students to peek at so they can get a handle on the term-if an assignment is made, the grading rubric and support material should also be available. I would say the "r" in ready needs to be capitalized in a hybrid program.
As is the norm for most professional education programs, while we prepared for the fall term, we are also planning and strategizing for the subsequent terms. Having 5 core faculty and 2 associated faculty on board at this point has allowed us to evaluate our curriculum and have a productive currriculum meeting this past week. How much fun is it to create, discuss, brainstorm, and discuss some more? Ok, well maybe it's not fun for everyone but to me it is much like I imagine a composer feels when she or he puts the finishing touches on a song! I am enjoying and relishing the spirit of our faculty-everyone shares and we are trying (thank you Keiba) not to talk over one another as we get excited about something! That's a good thing to work on, right? White coat ceremony is also scheduled for this October 22nd, so there is much to celebrate ahead!
SET: All classes are up in WebCT (our online classroom system), students have begun interacting (learning how to create their own Blog in Dr. Riba's class, signing up for chats with Dr. Page, connecting to online resources and presentations in Dr. Shaw's class) just to mention a few. In our pre-semester meeting, we were able to look at all 4 classes super-imposed on one another to check for possible conflicts in time or testing. So I guess we're also SET. The students-many printed materials from WebCT before they even left campus last Sunday-and thus I would say they're ready to GO!
GO: Speaking of GO, I'm about to take a much needed and anticipated vacation. I'll be back in time for our first on-campus session and greatly appreciate Dr. Page leading Unit 1 of the Professional Issues class :-) I feel 100% confident that the students, faculty, and staff are ready for an interactive semester ahead.
Arrividerci! Fans can follow my upcoming travel blog entitled: Io sono Americana
This blog is the story of NSU's Hybrid DPT Program in Tampa FL. Hybrid learning refers to the purposefully blended fusion of 2 types of instruction: online and face-to-face. I hope this blog will help answer the questions on everyone’s mind: How can students learn if they’re not always in the classroom? What makes hybrid teaching/learning special? What are the challenges? Rewards? And my personal favorite: SERIOUSLY? So, relax, sit back, and enjoy the “ride” on this hybrid blog!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
It's the little things...
Yes, it's the little things that make me smile these day! This afternoon, I created my first voicethread. Voice Thread is a website (http://www.voicethread.com/) that allows you to share files, media, presentations, etc in a manner that facilitates interaction, collaboration, and expression using various modes of communication. Here is a screen capture from the website:
I imported 2 pictures related to a video presentation I created about the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Then, on voicethread, I was able to insert my voice on the pictures, explaining what I want the students to do. I also 'doodled' on the picture by using the doodle pen to circle myself in a picture. But the really cool part is that the assignment is for the students to insert their own voice and comment on the 'clear' or 'muddy' points about the Guide. If your curious to see what it's like (come on-I know you're a little curious...) you can go to this link http://voicethread.com/share/2178786/ and see how it works. But wait: BEFORE you can log on to see my link you have to sign up for VoiceThread. It is free, and all it requires is you to register an email address and create a password. The free account excludes some fancy schmancy type of applications, but you'll enjoy the examples that are published. If you do go to this link, you can actually make a comment on the board as well! You will be asked to save or delete your message, so if you're shy but curious give it a try. If you post, please make sure it is professional because it is for my Professional Issues in Physical Therapy class!
Now for the honest part: it took me about 2 hours to figure it out. My colleague let me test it with him (thanks Lance) because I almost couldn't believe I finally did it! Now for those of you who are quick on the uptake (you know who you are) it will probably take you 2 minutes. But in keeping with the purpose of my blog to share actual experiences, I had to humbly report that I'm a slow learner. So, if I can do it...so can you!
For my non-educator friends out there, there are a TON of applications for voicethread! You can upload a family picture, narrate it, and then hear you're friends and family's comments...OR...start a poem and have others help you complete it! Go for it my friends, there is nothing to lose but a little time!
I imported 2 pictures related to a video presentation I created about the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Then, on voicethread, I was able to insert my voice on the pictures, explaining what I want the students to do. I also 'doodled' on the picture by using the doodle pen to circle myself in a picture. But the really cool part is that the assignment is for the students to insert their own voice and comment on the 'clear' or 'muddy' points about the Guide. If your curious to see what it's like (come on-I know you're a little curious...) you can go to this link http://voicethread.com/share/2178786/ and see how it works. But wait: BEFORE you can log on to see my link you have to sign up for VoiceThread. It is free, and all it requires is you to register an email address and create a password. The free account excludes some fancy schmancy type of applications, but you'll enjoy the examples that are published. If you do go to this link, you can actually make a comment on the board as well! You will be asked to save or delete your message, so if you're shy but curious give it a try. If you post, please make sure it is professional because it is for my Professional Issues in Physical Therapy class!
Now for the honest part: it took me about 2 hours to figure it out. My colleague let me test it with him (thanks Lance) because I almost couldn't believe I finally did it! Now for those of you who are quick on the uptake (you know who you are) it will probably take you 2 minutes. But in keeping with the purpose of my blog to share actual experiences, I had to humbly report that I'm a slow learner. So, if I can do it...so can you!
For my non-educator friends out there, there are a TON of applications for voicethread! You can upload a family picture, narrate it, and then hear you're friends and family's comments...OR...start a poem and have others help you complete it! Go for it my friends, there is nothing to lose but a little time!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Time for planning and brainstorming: A must have for hybrid courses
I am a big fan of brainstorming and reflection as both a teacher and a learner. Of course I'm also a fan of Dewey and Schon-great thinkers who emphasized reflection as a necessary part of learning. Shhh-I just shared my geeky side-don't tell anyone! It might ruin my 'hip' reputation!
As a teacher, I have always struggled to find time for reflection.When our plates are full (as they often are), reflection is the first to go! We've got classes to get ready for, classes to teach, scholarly work to do, throw in a little service or practice...you get the picture. Yet without reflection, how do we improve? If we don't take the time to ask "what worked? what didn't?" then we might make the same foibles next year. Also, the LESS we reflect, the LESS we ask students to reflect! Reflecting before teaching has always helped me answer the big questions: What is the take home message? How can I best reach the students on this concept? Will they remember this in 1 day, 1 month, 1 year? What about 2 or 10 years?
As I prepare for my first hybrid entry level class, I find that time for brainstorming and reflection are even more in demand! Why? When I move my content away from a "lecture" focus, I must think long and hard about the types of activities that will promote learning without distracting the students. I worry about the time it takes for students to FIND information, then also process it AND apply it!
Similar to the face-to-face classroom, I am trying to avoid monotony: In the classroom, I moved around, changed the pace of the lecture, started with a story or an anecdote! Likewise, I can begin a unit with a video one week and a reading another! However, I have relinquished control of timing, pace, and order in this new hybrid format. So, I need to ponder, think, run ideas by my colleagues, all in the name of making sure I've thought the idea through to fruition.
Yesterday, the faculty got together and presented our fall courses to one another. First-I am so proud of this crew-they are amazing. Second, I learned so much from them! The BONUS is that during this together time, rather than just being another mandatory (which it is) and boring (which it isn't) meeting, it was actually a solid time for both brainstorming and reflecting. The results--priceless!
I close with a picture of our wipe board in our conference room-by the end of the session we were able to agree on a schedule of time/dates for our on-campus days with some lobbying (Keiba) and good organization (Melissa) and flexibility (Kendall). Muchas Gracias!
As a teacher, I have always struggled to find time for reflection.When our plates are full (as they often are), reflection is the first to go! We've got classes to get ready for, classes to teach, scholarly work to do, throw in a little service or practice...you get the picture. Yet without reflection, how do we improve? If we don't take the time to ask "what worked? what didn't?" then we might make the same foibles next year. Also, the LESS we reflect, the LESS we ask students to reflect! Reflecting before teaching has always helped me answer the big questions: What is the take home message? How can I best reach the students on this concept? Will they remember this in 1 day, 1 month, 1 year? What about 2 or 10 years?
As I prepare for my first hybrid entry level class, I find that time for brainstorming and reflection are even more in demand! Why? When I move my content away from a "lecture" focus, I must think long and hard about the types of activities that will promote learning without distracting the students. I worry about the time it takes for students to FIND information, then also process it AND apply it!
Similar to the face-to-face classroom, I am trying to avoid monotony: In the classroom, I moved around, changed the pace of the lecture, started with a story or an anecdote! Likewise, I can begin a unit with a video one week and a reading another! However, I have relinquished control of timing, pace, and order in this new hybrid format. So, I need to ponder, think, run ideas by my colleagues, all in the name of making sure I've thought the idea through to fruition.
Yesterday, the faculty got together and presented our fall courses to one another. First-I am so proud of this crew-they are amazing. Second, I learned so much from them! The BONUS is that during this together time, rather than just being another mandatory (which it is) and boring (which it isn't) meeting, it was actually a solid time for both brainstorming and reflecting. The results--priceless!
I close with a picture of our wipe board in our conference room-by the end of the session we were able to agree on a schedule of time/dates for our on-campus days with some lobbying (Keiba) and good organization (Melissa) and flexibility (Kendall). Muchas Gracias!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Research, Learn, Apply: No one said it would be easy or fast!
Well, now that I have successfully created a blog, it's time to start blogging!
Developing a hybrid DPT Program is more than just thinking, it's doing. For the last few months, and especially in the last few weeks, those of us at NSU's HE-DPT program have been learning as much as we can about hybrid education and the technology that goes behind it. No, we're not learning programming skills, rather we're learning about BEST PRACTICES in hybrid education (researching), learning about new technologies (like blogs), and applying what we've learned to the classes we're developing. Sound like fun? Well, it is, yet it's also humbling.
Here's a few things I've learned just in the past few weeks:
Developing a hybrid DPT Program is more than just thinking, it's doing. For the last few months, and especially in the last few weeks, those of us at NSU's HE-DPT program have been learning as much as we can about hybrid education and the technology that goes behind it. No, we're not learning programming skills, rather we're learning about BEST PRACTICES in hybrid education (researching), learning about new technologies (like blogs), and applying what we've learned to the classes we're developing. Sound like fun? Well, it is, yet it's also humbling.
Here's a few things I've learned just in the past few weeks:
- Making an audio recording SOUNDS easy but it is NOT. Why? Because although I have taught in a classroom for almost 17 years, hearing my voice on a 3 minute introduction is EYE opening..even embarrassing. It took me about 5 takes and probably 30 minutes to record my 3 minute message as an introduction to the class. I even had my message pre-written! I did all the things we learned from our hybrid mentor Dr. Mike Simonson...I used a microphone, had a script, yet it still took 30 minutes. Perhaps my friends, colleagues, and loved ones would say I am too picky? seeking perfection? I say: "Who me?"
- There really is such a thing as a community of learning! I am so proud of the faculty and staff here at NSU Tampa-we are all learning new skills and sharing what we've learned with one another. BIG thanks to Dr. Riba for bringing us back LOTS of ideas from the Merlot conference in California. She has happily accepted the role of "TECH GAL" and we are eternally grateful! Tomorrow we'll be sharing our plans for the fall courses with one another, and I can't wait to get some good ideas.
- Less is MORE. I used to do about a 60 minute lecture teaching students about "The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice." Now I am creating a "5 minutes to the Guide" session accompanied by a VoiceThread to allow students to comment on the guide. Why less? Because watching me for 60 minutes on the computer would be HORRIBLE! I found that out just by listening to myself for 3 minutes (see #1 above). Also, there has been some research done that says we can boil down our lecture to a few minutes of important points. Why more? You got it, it has taken me HOURS to figure out how to cut down my session to the key points.
- Mastering this form of teaching will require good "systems management" on my part. What do I mean by that? You need to set up accounts (google, youtube, voicethread, wordle, etc) and then REMEMBER the accounts and passwords, and also remember how to use the technology. For those of you who know me, you know this is not my strong point! Thank you to Mike Buck and James Pfrehm from Ithica College who presented at 2011 CSM pre-conference course entitled "PT 2.0"! You were incredible!
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