Distance Learning Mentoring Group

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

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

RICHARD FELNAGLES ONLINE HUMANITIES COUSE

Richard Felnagle shared his online humanities course (HUM 251) with DLMG faculty. It incorporates weekly lectures Richard delivers using streaming video (with Real software) to his students.

You can see an example of one of his videos on his homepage at http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~rfelnagle/
Click on the ENG 101 orientation link on that screen.

He creates the video overviews in his home office, using a green screen background so he can put photographs or maps behind him (similar to what you see on the nightly TV weather forecasts). He purchased the green screen fabric from an internet TV supplies site for about $25.00.

He clamped the fabric to a bookshelf behind him and has his wife run the video camera while he talks. Richard adds some extra overhead lighting to the room.

He has a script written out that he uses. He posts the written script in the lesssons so that students can both hear and/or read the script. Richard thinks the most valuable contribution the instructor can make is to share his/her enthusiasm for the content and that enthusiasm comes through best on videos.

Richard uses Ulead Media Studio Pro to edit his videos. However, it is for the sophisticated user. He recommends Ulead Video Studio as a more basic "getting started" software for editing videos.

Over the years, Richard has eliminated the use of a textbook with all his classes, including his online course. With the wealth of resources available on the internet, Richard has been able to create everything online that he needs. It saves the students money and Richard does not have to update the course every time a new edition of the textbook is published. If this option interests you, he suggests using Google to search for "open source textbooks" as well as utilize the Ebrary resources through the MCC library.

In addition to the streaming video introduction to each unit, students print a copy of Richard's Study Guide and answer the questions therein, take a multiple choice quiz on the readings (using WebCT) and post to a discussion board. Students also submit papers online for some of the units.

The quizzes count for a small portion of the course grade but assure that the students are doing the required work. Richard uses the "Question Set" option in WebCT. Each quiz contains about 50 multiple-choice questions (all saved as one question set). He instructs WebCT to pick any 15 of these question at random for delivery to a particular student. He lets students take the quiz twice.

Richard has a "minimum work policy" for his class. Students have to pass at least 10 of the 13 quizzes to get a passing grade in the course.

The icons in Richard's course are striking. He makes them himself using Firefox software.

Richard reviewed the TEACH act with regard to copyright for what faculty post on the internet. He says faculty have the right to digitize video and convert it to streaming media for their students with some caveats. You can't stream all of a musical or a commercial production.

You can use of all of a documentary but suggests students would react more favorably and learn more if you broke it into smaller pieces (no more than 20 minutes at a time). The copy needs to be legally optained; you might use a copy in the MCC Media Library or one you purchased). The video needs to be streamed so that students cannot download their own copy. The video needs to be behind a password so only enrolled students have access to it (WebCT accomplishes this).

Richard also includes this legal wording on the course homepage for his online course: Note: The materials on this course Web site are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

Each week's lesson includes a statement as to how many points are possible to have earned up to that point. Information is also provided on the number of possible points that can be earned the current week.

Richard uses Dreamweaver to edit/store/upload his content into WebCT. He uses the Manage Sites option (WebDav). When you make edits on your local computer, you save them all into your WebCT course with one step. The district does not have a site license for Dreamweaver. You would need to purchase it on your own if you want it.

Richard finished by sharing some songs he has written, recorded, and uploaded for his online students. You can hear his gems at this link: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~rfelnagle/songs.html
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~rfelnagle/songs.html

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Shelley Rodrigo will be showing us the world of Google tools at our next meeting. Be sure you have a Gmail account set up and know your username and password to access it. More details were sent in an earlier email.