Distance Learning Mentoring Group

Minutes for March 27, 2008 CTL Workroom, 3:15 P.M.- 4:45 P.M. AS192

In attendance at the DLMG meeting: Biray Alsac, Alex Cheroske, Scott Gustafson, Linda Evans,   Georgianna Anderson, Marianne Arini, Shabana Kausar, Misa Vening, Sharon McLaughlin, Maria Martell, and Peggy Johnson. Absent: Laura Kobar

MARIA MARTELL AND BREEZE LIVE

Maria Martell teaches Spanish both on-campus and online for MCC's World Language department. Attrition is higher in the online classes than in the face-to-face classes, so Maria is doing whatever she can to increase retention in her online classes. Maria has found that our students don't like to read, so she had developed hybrid courses also. The students come to campus once a week and the rest of the class time is online.

Maria uses a number of WebCT tools including Email, and Discussions. She uses Breeze Live (now called Adobe Connect) to chat by texting and creating audio files with her students in real time. Students have the option of logging in to the chat room from 4 to 5 P.M. or 9 to 10 P.M. one day a week. Maria sets up 10 minute appointments for individual students during this time.  Students are required to attend at least 10 of the 13 chats offered during the semester.

The first chat Maria conducts in English. After that, students are expected to use Spanish (Espanol). Students have their computer keyboards set to the International Keyboard for Spanish so they can input special characters unique to Spanish.

Students are alerted to the topic that will be discussed ahead of time. They are expected to prepare questions for the instructor on that topic. Archives are made of the text chats so students can access them later if desired. Multiple chat rooms can be created in Breeze for group work if desired.

Maria uses Breeze Live to give students an oral final exam. Students sign up for a specific time. Maria talks with them in Spanish 3 to 4 times during the semester (Breeze only allows one student at a time to do audio though many students can do texting at the same time) to familiarize students with how the exam will work using Breeze. If Breeze Live would not be working, she calls them and gives them the exam on the phone.

Breeze Live allows the instructor and/or students to use a camera if they want to send a live image. Maria just uses the voice option - not the live camera.

In Breeze you have the option of either sending private text messages to a single student or public messages to the entire class.

Faculty who wish to have Breeze software should contact Jeff Anderson in the CTL. It is free but Jeff must set up an account for you. Jeff's email is jeffa@mail.mc.maricopa.edu  His phone number is (480) 461-7709.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Richard Felnagle will be showing his online humanities course, complete with videos of lectures he's included in the class.