How can I foster a learner-centered environment of discussion and inquiry using this technology?
From KNILT
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What are the objectives of instructors?
Teachers who use MOOs within their literature and writing instruction know that their students are not always receptive to writing, sharing ideas, or achieving deep understanding. Twenty first century students are connected with technology in ways that previous generations have never been. By incorporating MOOs or virtual environments within our curriculums, teachers expect:
- to engage students' interest with their seemingly inherent intrest in technology
- to expose students to diverse points of view (via virtual presence)
- to provide students with the opportunity to engage in written discussion among peers
- to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge through role play in literary virtual worlds
- to provide students with a space to communicate with peers/recieve feedback in real time
- to provide students with an opportunity to develop relationship skills and media skills
- to foster cooperative learning in a diverse setting, while encouraging an ethic of responsibility to one's self and the group
What outcomes do teachers experience?
- Students effectively "entered" canonical texts that were usually perceived as difficult or distancing. (2005, Grabill) File:GRABILL, HICKS.pdf
- Teachers realized that students benefited from reading, writing, and discussing the connections between print and digital texts. The experience with MOOs, as documented in this article, fostered a deep understanding of the text, as well as a more active engagment within the writing process. (2006, Swenson) File:Swenson Young.pdf
- Students worked towards understanding by discussing and "exploring" some of the more difficult or opaque allegorical aspects of classical literature. This website provides a study in which a teacher used MOOs to help students achieve deep literary understanding with Dante Aligheri's The Inferno. (2002, Harris) [1]
- Interactive fictions also appeal to readers who would rather imagine than see the worlds they traverse (95 Rozema)
- Students were engaged with the text, discussions, role playing.
- Students provided open and cogent feedback to the instructor and to each other.
Take notes
- Compile a list of resources available to educators who wish to research and implement MOOs in an instructional setting.
- Use the WORKS CITED page, conduct a search on google, or access academic databases.
Discussion Forum
DISCUSSION FORUM 2:Annmarie Parathiras
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