Navigate 3 - Course Creation within LMS

 After selecting and downloading a trial LMS, create a course shell and make note of the various tools available.

The LMS in which I selected was schoology. Some of the tools included are updates, gradebook, badges, attendance, members, and analytics. 

While the content loads, note the steps completed to fully load the package and make it viewable. What were those steps? Is it important to follow these steps? Write a description of the experience in your blog.

These are the steps I used to place the content in the LMS.  First, I downloaded the content.  Then I went to create course.  I named the course Introduction to Digital Citizenship.  I then had to file in the section, subject, and level.  I typed in section 1, I used the drop down box and picked technology for subject.  I then picked grade level 9 and afterwards I was given the option to chose a range and so I put 9-12.  Then I had to click on create again.  I then had clicked on materials and add a file/Link/ External tool.  After which a pop up box appeared and I clicked on attach a file.  I was then able to chose the file which I previously downloaded.  This took about five minutes to complete the uploading. Once it was complete I had to click on add.  It is important to follow the steps in order for the information to be uploaded in the LMS.  

Navigate 3 - LMS Reporting

What are the options for grade reporting?  Are there various levels? 

In the Brightspace from the module, there were many options and levels for reporting the online students' grades. On the student level, the data can show the number of times a student accesses a course and other information listed below.  The teacher level shows course grades and offering which can help the teacher to determine the effectiveness of the course.  The Course level has analytics which can be helpful in evaluating the course. The levels are listed below with descriptions from the module.  

Which levels remain most valuable for the online instructor in regard to student performance?

The teacher level is the most valuable for the online instructor in regard to student performance.  This report can allow the teacher to view grades and see negative or positive results and this can help the teacher to evaluate their teaching methods.  Course level may also be helpful.  information that is gathered through reporting data analysis can propt the teachers to use differentiation in some cases.  

 Student Level – Student data can result in a report view that indicates the number of times a student accesses a course, attempts a quiz, visited content, or used a particular tool. The reports can aggregate across students in a course, and this data can be informative about the effectiveness of the online course.

Teacher Level – A report may look at course grades per course offering or across semesters/sessions to indicate positive or negative results per teacher, as well as overall material within the course’s effectiveness. A teacher may look at their own data or their students’ data for differentiation or evaluation of their teaching methods.

Course Level – Course level analytics are helpful to evaluate and re-design course materials and assessments.

Program Level – Program level data is used to evaluate the effectiveness in aggregate of the successes and failures of programs to inform administrators of areas for improvement.

Navigate 3- LMS Tool Categories

The tool categories of the LMS were explored when going though the module.  Teacher information, show class list, calendars, and class news. Communication tools such as email, notifications, and discussions were explored.  Also learning tools such as dropbox, quizzing, and grade book are great tools in the LMS.  

What are the most relevant features offered within an LMS? 

Two of the most relevant features offered are the communication tool of email and the leaner tool of discussion. Communication is key when teaching.  Email allows students and teachers to have open communication.  Students can write out questions they may have and the instructor is able to answer them.  The discussion tool is also useful because it allows the students to communicate with each other and the instructor in an organized way.   


Which features directly relate to effective online instruction?  

The discussion feature, dropbox, and testing are essential to online instruction.  Here again, having good communication is key.  The discussion will allow the instructor to read the students thoughts on matters.  Students can also turn in assignments using the dropbox. Most drop boxes can be set to stop collecting at a certain time and this can teach the online students  time management and accountability.  Last but not least the online student needs to be assessed to see if he/she is learning.  Having the quiz/test feature is a good way to see and also give feedback to the students.  


How might you use these features in the online classroom environment?

In an online learning environment I would use many of these LMS tools to teach.  I would use the class list to stay organized and plan activities.  I would place assignments on the calendar and have class news displayed in the LMS.  I would use the discussion tool to have students relate current events or experiences to engage them in what we will be studying each week.  For example if we will be studying soft skills.  I could post a discussion question asking why they feel the need to use soft skills.  I could also have them research and share a event where soft skills were not used and they should have been.  Discussions areas would also be a great place to write an essential question.  

Navigate 2 - LMS Trends

 Research trends in digital learning and select the trend that will make the most impact on digital learning over the next five years.  

According to Craig Weiss there are great new trends in store for digital learning.  these include curating content, mobile video, bigData and Little Data, personalized learning experience, and Deep learning ( also called predictive analysis). Other trends explored were gamification and badging. 

Which trend did you select? 

The trend I think that will make the most impact on digital learning is the mobile video.  According to the blog by Weiss LMS are going to have the ability to do things with the mobile device once it is uploaded.  I feel this will have a great impact because people use mobile devices so much and being able to upload videos will lead to sharing experiences in fast way.  

How do you foresee this trend impacting online learning?

 I feel this trend will increase the number of videos that can be shared with students by teachers.   Online students may also be able to share videos with the instructors.  Videos are generally easy to record on a mobile device and then can be shared with the class during a session or achieved for latter use. 

Will this trend be a learning fad or will it become an essential part of online learning in the future? Explain.

I believe that this trend will be here to stay.  More and more mobile devices are being relied upon in the many areas.  This will be a easy way for students to have access to information.  They will be able to use it when they desire and it will allow them to share information with each other.  Virtual tools maximize student learning and students enjoy using them.  

Navigate 2 - Tools for Deciding on an LMS

I explored some of the Learning Management Systems (LMS) shown above.

Which LMS is best? How does the selected LMS meet the needs of all stakeholders, including administrators, students, teachers and faculty, instructional technology, development, support, and parents? 

All of the LMSs which I explored had a lot of the same features, however the one I chose to call best is Edmodo.  Edmodo is a free LMS with no restrictions on the number of students in a group.  It provides a secure classroom environment in which the teacher can manage.   The teacher can delete inappropriate posts from students and the student posts can be seen by teachers as well as parents.  it is user-friendly and the Edmodo LMS has guide videos and support staff.  Teachers can post text,  polls, videos, links, quizzes and assignments.  

How does the selected LMS align with the initiatives, growth, and technological needs of your organization?

Edmodo helps with saving paper because so much can be done within the system.  Student work assignments can be submitted online. Student assignments are also posted online and this helps to save money.  Each year my organization is given a limited amount of paper and a limited amount of copy privileges.  It is mobile friendly which helps engage students and encourage them to use their technology.  Edmodo can also be useful for students who need remediation or tutoring and those who need to enrichment, making it a great LMS for differentiation. 

Navigate 2: Roles: Learning Management System and Student Information System

This is a artifact which highlights the various roles in a learning management system (LMS). 

Navigate 1 - Screen Capture

In the artifact below I created a screen capture sample lesson using screencast-o-matic.  During this sample lesson, I am explaining the concept of recording and reporting in healthcare. 

 How does screen capture function in the online classroom? 

Screen capture allows teachers to capture and archive lectures and have them accessible to students when students need them.  Screen capture plays a big part in asynchronous learning by allowing a student to view the content of a lesson as often as needed.  Teachers can use screen capture to explain a concept better or  demonstrate a process.  The student is able to work as slow or as fast as they would like when learning the concept using the screen capture.  

How would the integration of screen capture modify teaching methods?

The integration of screen capture would modify teaching methods for teachers and students.  When teaching using screen capture the student is not there to ask questions and this requires that the teacher anticipate questions the students may have.  When this is done, the teacher can include answers to questions the students may have.  The screen capture allows students to work at their on pace.  they can take their time and master concepts.  They can pause, review, and replay portions they may not understand.  Unlike recordings, they don't have distractions of other students.