Seven Steps in Designing Seven Steps in Designing the the eWritingeWriting Learning Learning

Objects (LOs)Objects (LOs)

eWritingeWriting: ESL Writing Success: ESL Writing SuccessSeptember 2002 – August 2005September 2002 – August 2005

ESL/Foreign Languages DepartmentESL/Foreign Languages Department

Presented by: Michaela Tomova,Presented by: Michaela Tomova, FIPSE Grant ManagerFIPSE Grant Manager

Project OverviewProject Overview

GoalsGoals

Content and scopeContent and scope

CollaboratorsCollaborators

Dissemination and publicationsDissemination and publications

Step 1 Step 1 :: Defining an LODefining an LO

What is an LO?What is an LO?

Definition of the Definition of the eWritingeWriting LO: LO: The LO is a one hour, self-contained, reusable The LO is a one hour, self-contained, reusable

unit of online instruction. It neither links out, unit of online instruction. It neither links out, nor does it depend on other LOs for pre or post nor does it depend on other LOs for pre or post instruction. It pre-tests students’ knowledge of instruction. It pre-tests students’ knowledge of the target concept, and measures learning the target concept, and measures learning through a post-test. It incorporates a variety of through a post-test. It incorporates a variety of technology tools for online instruction and technology tools for online instruction and addresses all learning styles. addresses all learning styles.

Defining an LO: First StepsDefining an LO: First Steps

The “Learning Clock”,

FIPSE Focus Group,

April 17, 2003,

Group Work

Defining an LO: First StepsDefining an LO: First StepsFIPSE Focus GroupFIPSE Focus Group

Step 1: Step 1: Defining an LODefining an LOComponents of the Components of the eWritingeWriting LO: LO:

• Learning objectiveLearning objective• Time on taskTime on task• Pre-testPre-test• Warm-up/IntroductionWarm-up/Introduction• Lectures (teacher talk with examples) Lectures (teacher talk with examples) • ActivitiesActivities• Post-testPost-test• Survey (paper and Survey (paper and on-line versionon-line version))• Answer keyAnswer key• Feedback to wrong answersFeedback to wrong answers• Links to additional online references to Links to additional online references to

reinforce learningreinforce learning

Defining an LO: Defining an LO: WebCTWebCT Online Seminar: Online Seminar:

LEARNINGLEARNING

Pedagogical expectations:Pedagogical expectations:• Learning objectLearning objectivesives

Range in scope and sizeRange in scope and sizePurpose and goalsPurpose and goals

• Teaching strategiesTeaching strategiesActivities, content, assessmentActivities, content, assessment

• Learner focusedLearner focusedInteractive, adaptable. Interactive, adaptable.

NEW!NEW! Various learning styles Various learning styles addressed, addressed, LO themes LO themes introducedintroduced

OBJECTOBJECT

Practical expectations: Practical expectations: • Easy to useEasy to use• AccessibleAccessible• SearchableSearchable• IdentifiableIdentifiable• Customizable Customizable • Integrate-ableIntegrate-able• ImprovableImprovable• Sellable, etc, etc. Sellable, etc, etc.

Step 2 Step 2 :: Team Selection and Team Selection and Writing the Writing the

CurriculumCurriculum(we’re almost there!)(we’re almost there!) Team selection Team selection

TrainingTraining

Course design:Course design:1.1. The college writing and grammar competenciesThe college writing and grammar competencies2.2. Developing a Table of Contents for the six Developing a Table of Contents for the six

levelslevels3.3. Outlining the writers’ instructions and formatOutlining the writers’ instructions and format4.4. Determining the pre and post test requirementsDetermining the pre and post test requirements5.5. Providing a checklist of LO componentsProviding a checklist of LO components6.6. Setting the Setting the eWritingeWriting schedule schedule

Step 3 Step 3 : Classroom Test : Classroom Test PilotingPiloting

(work in progress)(work in progress) The “The “First stepsFirst steps” in ” in

piloting tested:piloting tested: The The contentcontent in terms of in terms of

appropriateness of level, appropriateness of level, length of the LO, students’ length of the LO, students’ understanding, clarity of understanding, clarity of instructions, usefulness of instructions, usefulness of activities, interest and activities, interest and positive response.positive response.

Initially, classroom piloting Initially, classroom piloting facilitated:facilitated:

The evaluation process The evaluation process Revision and editing of LOsRevision and editing of LOs

EvolutionEvolution of piloting of piloting strategies and results:strategies and results:

Revised piloting Revised piloting instructionsinstructions

Extended time for LO Extended time for LO classroom deliveryclassroom delivery

Error analysis and Error analysis and feedback for all activities feedback for all activities in the LOin the LO

Better feedback and Better feedback and evaluation dataevaluation data

Step 4 Step 4 :: Evaluation: Purposes Evaluation: Purposes and and Tools Tools

(Dr. Barry Greenberg) (Dr. Barry Greenberg)

Classroom interviewsClassroom interviews

Measuring learningMeasuring learning

Step 5Step 5: : ProgrammingProgramming (work in progress)(work in progress)

Hire and train programmersHire and train programmers Develop online tutorialsDevelop online tutorials Design online templatesDesign online templates Select tools to develop online LOsSelect tools to develop online LOs

Hot PotatoesHot PotatoesLectoraLectora

Step 6Step 6: Online Piloting: Online Piloting(third year project)(third year project)

Facilities: the ESL labFacilities: the ESL lab

Students’ surveysStudents’ surveys

Collection of final evaluation dataCollection of final evaluation data

Step 7 Step 7 :: Evaluation and Final Evaluation and Final ProductProduct

• Samples of online LO activities:Samples of online LO activities:

Level 2Level 2

Level 6Level 6

Seven Steps in Designing the Seven Steps in Designing the eWritingeWriting Learning Objects Learning Objects

(LOs)(LOs)

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!