Instructional Development Workshops

• Student-Centered Learning…? Try MERLOT.
  Tuesday, March 16th, 2004 (3 - 4:00 pm)
  Wednesday, March 17th, 2004 (3 - 4:00 pm)(Repeated)
  
  Preparing instructional materials to facilitate learning can be a time consuming, difficult and expensive task. This interactive workshop will introduce you to MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching), a free, peer reviewed collection of excellent learning modules that you can use in your classes.
  The workshop will also introduce you to the constructivist theory of learning, the foundation of student-centered pedagogical approaches. Examples from the MERLOT collection will be used to illustrate this method.
  
  Facilitator: Dr Aziza Ellozy, Center for Learning and Teaching
  
  
• To Lurk, or not to Lurk; that is the Question: Electronic Mediation of Communication
  Wednesday, March 24th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  Thursday, March 25th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)(Repeated)
  
  This workshop is for any faculty who use computer-mediated-communication in their courses
  
  To “lurk” is to lie hid; to lie in wait; to keep out of sight. “Lurking” in this workshop is used to describe those students who log on to discussion fora but never “participate”.
  Although electronic fora efficiently link those in need of data, information and knowledge with those that have it, the lack of sustained high-quality participation in fora discussion has been examined and seen to be a regularised phenomenon.
  This however, is not at all unique to computer-mediated-communication because the same phenomenon exists, for many of the same reasons, in face-to-face tutorials, group meetings, or political participation and other types of social interaction. If it is “rational” to lurk, and “should come as no surprise” to us, do we need to do anything about it? In this workshop we will examine this and related questions
  
  Facilitator: Dr Herb Thompson, Economics Dept.
  
  
• Smart Classes for Smart Classrooms
  Wednesday, March 31st, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  Finding effective pedagogical uses for technology in the classroom can be a daunting task. Smart classrooms are defined as those that only have a data display for the instructor as well as those that include computers for each student. This workshop will examine strategies appropriate for both types of classrooms so that learning becomes an active rather than passive experience.
  The workshop will present examples of lecture presentations, student-centered lab work, and methods for linking in-class projects to outside assignments.
  
  Facilitators: Ms Natasha Gast and Ms. Angela McCallum, Writing program
  
  
• Teaching with the Case Method (Part I)
  Tuesday, April 6th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  This workshop will address the methods of case writing in such fields like management, sociology, mass communication, and economics etc. The principles of case writing will be briefly outlined, and the sequence normally followed will be discussed. A case example will also illustrate the contents and structure of a good case.
  Writing a good case is not enough for the effective use of cases as a medium of learning. Some of the workshop time will, therefore, be devoted to how a case may be put to effective use.
  The above presentation will be brief to allow time for discussion.
  
  Facilitator: Dr Talaat Abdel Malek, Economics Dept.
  
  
• Teaching with the Case Method (Part II)
  Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  This workshop will deal with the preparation and use of "dynamic exercises" in case teaching. This type of exercise offers instructors the flexibility to intervene by introducing more variables and observing the students' reactions to each.
  An example will be given to illustrate the contents and structure of a dynamic exercise and how "selective interventions" are introduced.
  
  Facilitator: Dr Talaat Abdel Malek, Economics Dept.
  
  
• Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations
  Wednesday, April 21st, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  Using presentations as part of lectures can go beyond bulleted lists of linear information. This workshop will explore the basics of creating an effective PowerPoint presentation that will appeal to multiple learning styles. Using examples of presentations prepared by instructors and students, the workshop will explore instructive and collaborative design principles. Participants will practice designing basic interactive presentations.
  
  Facilitators: Ms Natasha Gast and Ms. Angela McCallum, Writing program
  
  
• Finding Appropriate Multimedia Resources to Complement Pedagogy
  Wednesday, May 12th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  Finding and selecting appropriate multimedia resources to be used in class and online can be difficult. This workshop will provide a basis for complementing pedagogy with available online and campus resources. Participants will be provided with lists of some resources, will review examples of assignments using multimedia, and will practice combining multimedia elements with coursework.um
  
  Facilitators: Ms Natasha Gast and Ms. Angela McCall, Writing program
  
  
• E-Moderating: The Key to Teaching and Learning Online
  Wednesday, May 19th, 2004 (3-4:00 pm)
  
  "Successful online learning depends primarily on teachers and trainers acquiring new competences and becoming familiar with the potential of learning platforms to inspire and motivate learners, BUT not mastering the technology itself." Gilly Salmon
  How does a teacher become an online teacher? Do we need online teachers?
  What's the point of online teachers when we spent thousands buying an electronic learning platform?
  The workshop will explore these and similar questions as a means of generating a discussion and hopefully a debate about the role of "teachers" in e-learning. In doing so the workshop will consider learning styles and especially learning experiences and argue for the need for structured learning experiences - i.e. the need for e-moderators. In other words the workshop will re-assure us all that we still have jobs in the new brave world of e-learning, BUT only if we are also prepared to re-invent ourselves and engage with the pedagogic and learning potential of the new technology and earning potential of the new technology and thus turn the "opportunity cost" to the advantage of our students and ourselves.
  
  Facilitator: Dr. Pandeli Glavanis, Political Science Dept.