Webquest

Webquest, a new way of learning and teaching for students and teachers started from the late 90's. When teacher using the webquest in the classroom, teacher can broaden teaching materials from the out side of the text book and enrich information delivered to students. On the other hand, webquest adds most values to students. First, student increase thinking and analytical abilities when using the webquest. Students are required to make comparison, recommendations, contrast, and make decisions. They must read through number of reading materials in order to complete the tasks required on the webquest. Second, knowledge can be more retentive. Students are required to explore the material they found on the internet and reprocess them into different presentation formats. In this case, student must well understand their information and knowledge. For example, a student needs to be well prepared for his/her presentation in a retelling task.

Now a day, kids have more computer skills and abilities than we did in their age. Webquest is a great tool for students to practice/develop their computer skills. If a webquest is make up with full of interest materials, student will most likely to spend more time on the webquest rather than other time killing computer games. Moreover, because webquest is a virtual learning material, students can access it anywhere and anytime. It gives student another way to access new knowledge without physically attending class. As a result, students will have greater engagement with online learning and school study.

Discussion board and Forum

In my opinion forum can encourage students' participation and share every individual student's experience. Because every member can be anonymous in the forum, this could encourage some quiet students to express their opinions without being embarrassing when they make mistakes. On the other hand, teacher can give mandatory assignment to students and require them to make comments and discussions on the forum. This method can push every student to think and to participate in the discussion on the matter that required in the course. Forum can also stimulate students to increase their typing skills by posting and reply thread in the classroom. There are some challenges associated with forum when using it for teaching and learning. First, forums are not synchronous. Students or users need to physically click the refresh bottom to update the thread. Second, students need to be motivated enough to increase the participations. Teachers need to provide in depth information/materials regarding to the topic and the subject matter. Unfortunately, teacher has no effective method to monitor whether student have student the materials provided.

Online Learning in adult’s continuous education

This week I want to share some of my thoughts about the online learning in adult's continuous education. In the old time, I remember my Dad studied in a distance leaning program to complete his post-secondary education. Certainly, there is no internet at that time. Distance learners received his/her study materials in a package of mail to conduct self-study and to complete necessary exams. This was the old fashion way of distance learning to meet learner's convenience. After the existence of internet, an equal sign has place between the distance learning and the online learning. The old correspondence course has been replaced by the online learning course. Online MBA is one of the most popular adult education programs on this planet. However, online MBA has growing exponentially in the past few years, many educators and reputable institutions still have a receptive attitude on the online learning method. In Canada, only one university (Athabasca University - Online MBA) offers complete MBA course on the internet in total of 77 universities. On the counter part, in United States about 12-15 universities are offering the online MBA program. Unfortunately, I have found that none of these universities are accredited by Ivy League Universities. Obviously, none of the universities of Ivy League is offering online/distance MBA programs. As we can see in this phenomenon, North American universities are still being conservative toward the online education. I think MBA program has many values from the personal net working among students during the course. Personal networking in online education/online learning environment might not be perceived as substantial as traditional MBA program. Hopefully, through using the advancing new technology, online education could have closer community among online learners, for example using Google Doc and eportfolios.