Reflections for Session 5: E-facilitation (Practicum): WEEKS 9-12

Hi Dear ED403 Bloggers!

This is my Blog for the final session in ED403 which is Session 5: E-facilitation (Practicum): WEEKS 9-12

(Please have read and feel free to comment. Thanks.)

The E-facilitation (Practicum) gave us the opportunity to design a fully online course. It has been a great 3 weeks watching, learning and also facilitating as my group members and also Jonassen and Aristotle ran the show for Efacilitation Practicums. My groups, i.e group Illich topic was “Elements of Successful Online Learning in the Pacific Context.” Also, Aristotle groups topic was: “Online Learning in the Pacific Regional Context” and Jonassen groups topic was: “Being Inclusive: Role of Culture, Gender and special needs in Online Learning in Developing countries.”

This session reflected on group learning. Each group showcased their own curriculum design skills and used Moodle features for student learning. Online discussion forums were used - captured critical points and personal experiences, online quizzes to test our understanding of the course content, reflections, concept maps, videos, articles etc. Facilitator for each day got a chance to coordinate an online course and explore his/her own online skills. I helped in compiling lesson content for my group and was the coordinator for Session 5: Teacher Presence - Support and Communication. I participated in the other two groups practicum weeks and completed the quizzes, the forum discussions and assignments as well.

All the groups used assessments. Both formative and summative assessments were used and discussions went beyond Moodle whereby groups used Twitter to further discuss key issues. We have learnt that feedback is a critical component of teaching and learning and all groups did a marvelous job in capturing this and providing it to students for better engagement.

I used the Moodle course analytics for the first time to create feedback report for students.

There is a number of things that one could easily take from this session. It is about team effort and I can really see how beneficial efacilitation practice is and I would highly recommend it for any educator deciding to move into elearning.

Cheers!

Thank you for reading 😊

This concludes my last blog in ED403

Stay tuned for further posts in near future.

Cheers

Sheemal

Reflections for Session 4: eLearning Practices in Higher Education - WEEK 7-8

Hi Dear ED403 Bloggers!

This is my Blog for Session 4: eLearning Practices in Higher Education
(Please have read and feel free to comment. Thanks.)

A. MicroLED and Microteaching
Session 4 allowed us to work on MicroLED for our teaching course. I teach PHRM 203 which is a pre-clinical course in the MBBS program. This was the first encounter for me to produce a MicroLED video for one of my lessons. At first it was a struggle because prior to ED403, I have had no experience of creating a video for my lecture delivery. But I discovered an online tool during research in OER assignment so I was able to make one. This MicroLED activity has helped me to familiarise with teaching online tactics.

Also, the feedback I received from my fellow group members has enabled me to better prepare for Micro teaching. One member commented, “Your MicroLED video was very clear and well presented, I liked the way you incorporated concept maps. The of MCQ's is an effective way of assessment, also maybe in future you can consider adding True/False questions as well depending on the relevancy. Your information provided was in depth and well designed.”

My MicroLED Video can be accessed at https://youtu.be/m5mjNgA8KR8

The Microteaching session went very well and I got to learn a lot from my peers in my group by being their student. It helped me reinforce my methods of teaching. I made notes of ways in which I can be a better teacher.

B. eLearning Case Study

For our eLearning case study, my Team Illich decided to investigate on the topic “(Re)imagining eLearning within higher education: Explorations in the Pacific.”
These are our individual topics:

Gurmeet Singh - Use of Online Discussion Forum for Case Study Analysis as an E-assessment Tool for Formative Assessment in ISP21 Course

Sheemal Shareeka - Introducing e-assessments via BYOD in the Medical Pharmacology course at University of Fiji.

Maca Stephen - Peer Assessment as Formative e-Assessment in UU204

Evelyn Kumar - A Case Study on Formative e-Assessments in A Pacific Island Dental School Using Open-Source Learning Management System’

Avin Prasad - Substituting field practical experience with Virtual learning during a Pandemic

David Fa’avae - Future of eLearning spaces using augmented and virtual realities

This paper explores how online learning can be understood within the Pacific context and across diverse learning disciplines. The paper is structured into two main sections. The first section (1) explores the nature and context of eLearning, specifically in relation to the global challenges associated with face-to-face and blended modalities; and the future of eLearning spaces using augmented and virtual realities. The second section (2) explores the use of e-assessment as formative practice across various disciplines; challenges and benefits in the development and sustainability of e-assessment systems; and the use of ‘Bring your Own Devices’ (BYOD) for e-assessment, and the impact of peer assessment on eLearning.

I must say that the process of researching and writing my case study paper required a lot of hard work and I hope you will like it when you read it.

I also hope our group’s final paper has turned out well and will be enjoyed by the ED403 cohort.

Thank you for reading 😊

Till next and last session blog …

Cheers
Sheemal