Instructional+Unit+in+a+Virtual+Classroom+Environment



Virtual Classroom

With the use of on-line instruction becoming a normal part of today’s classrooms, or assignment was to use Blackboard as our instructional setting and develop a course of instruction that could be used to teach an entire class while away from the traditional classroom setting. To make this available we had to create documents to complete assignments, develop video clips, screencast, and voicethread applications that would allow students taking these courses to understand varying topics of discussion that would be taking place through the course. The units were to relate to state standards and to 21st century knowledge and skills related to the newest technologies available for classroom instruction. All lessons, as well as video clips, articles and visual media were to be associated with Web 2.0 instructional applications that were learned while we were enrolled in EDT 6020. Test were also to be included in this course of instruction, Pre and post or one or the other needed to be included in this course to evaluate students level of understanding on your instructional techniques.
 * Description **

The process to build this virtual classroom seemed to be pretty intense. First we had some reading to complete about virtual classrooms and where they were heading in the future. These classrooms are more prevalent today than ever before and the use of these classrooms on-line will assist a number of students that may not have had the opportunity for this type of learning before. I tried to keep with my relevant classroom instructional type of assignments, but found it hard to apply what I wanted students to learn and how to actually get them to learn this though an on-line medium. Most of my classroom instruction is hands-on and hard to complete as a visual type of instruction. I needed to be sure that students could actually view a video of an actual assignment, then apply it as needed to complete the classroom instruction. Some of this was completed through video clips, screencast, voice thread applications, and using Wimba. Allowing students to use Wimba to talk to the instructor while taking the course allowing for very good question and comment sessions that all students could interact with. The last thing we included to this type of instructional format was blogging. This allowed students to ask questions or pose comments on a blog where all students and the instructor could see and make comments of their own and make sure that all students were understanding the assignments correctly and completing them as necessary. Specific items that were required on our Blackboard home page were announcements, a Start Here or Do Now section, assignments, tests, and a teacher contact page so students could be sure and reach the instructor for any pertinent information. This was an overall trying assignment because I think I was trying to put to much into the assignments instead of thinking about how to apply the information in the classroom setting or Virtual classroom setting.
 * Process **

Link to my Virtual Classroom: [|Virtual Classroom]


 * Reflection **

This was overall the most time consuming lesson or assignment we has during this course of instruction. It took most of the seven weeks of instruction to either get the better part of the classroom set up initially or to redo a lot of what was put in incorrectly in the first place. This type of instruction seems to be a really good idea for students that have no way to make it to a traditional class, but with teaching Automotive Technology, I find it hard to incorporate a lot of the instructional styles into my type of lessons. I tried to research on-line automotive training schools, and found nothing of the sort. There was a lot of information about the use of technology in automotive schools, but nothing about on-line use of instruction. It is hard to fathom that someone could learn how to actually fix something with their hands that included a lot of technological advances just from watching or viewing something in an on-line setting. This type of education has to come from a traditional classroom setting with qualified instructors to guide students as needed.

R eference: Blackboard Logo, Blackbaord,com (2010)