STRATEGIES FOR CONDUCTING INTERACTIVE SYNCHRONOUS DISTANCE CLASSES ONLINE

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STRATEGIES FOR CONDUCTING INTERACTIVE SYNCHRONOUS
DISTANCE CLASSES ONLINE

• Marta Bret Frank Quebbemann
• Miami Dade College

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FETC Presentation

1. Background on e-Reach Project
2. Some Built-in Features of Horizon Live to Promote
   Interactivity
3. Additional Activities Used by Online Instructors

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E-ReachElectronic Outreach ThroughCommunity
Service
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I. What is e-Reach?

• e-Reach is an electronic outreach program which
  offers Adult Basic Education, GED, and Workplace
  Readiness instruction on-line.
• It is a collaboration between MDC and South
  Florida Workforce.
• It is funded by the Technology Opportunities
  Program (TOP) of the Department of Commerces
  National Telecommunications and Information
  Administration (NTIA).

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What is E-Reach about?

• e-Reach uses state-of-the-art computer technology
  (HorizonLive) to transmit live,synchronous
  classes on-line to participants at One Stop
  Centers several times a day. Hybrid Distance
  education program.
• e-Reach has computer tutorials in math, reading,
  English, GED test preparation, and employability
  skills that can be used whenever the One Stop
  Centers are open.

• Lab staff are available at the One Stop Centers
  to help with the technology, and teachers are
  accessible on-line to answer questions about
  class work.

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Who is e-Reach for ?

• One Stop customers and community residents who
  need to improve their basic skills or who want to
  get their GED.
• People who need to take classes at the One Stop
  Center near their home. Child care and other
  services are provided for One Stop customers.
  Locations are in their community.

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How e-Reach Works

• Participants are located at different One Stop
  locations around Miami-Dade County.
• They are able to use Basic Skills, GED, and
  Workplace Readiness software programs at each
  site.
• Classes and Workshops are held on-line.
• One-on-one tutorials on-line

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On-Line Classes Workshops

• Participants receive schedules for upcoming
  on-line classes workshops.
• At the time of a class/workshop, students log in
  to the course on the Internet and begin
  interacting with the instructor.
• Interactions are via written chat and two-way
  audio using HorizonLive.
• At the end of class, instructors
• are available to answer questions.

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Why e-Reach is set up this way

• Convenient for students
• Case managers are another level of motivators
• No need for individual user technical support
• Transition program to campus programs
• Doorway to further collaborations with SFW

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E-Reach staff on site

• Retention Specialist
• Interacts with South Florida Workforce staff
• Motivates students to continue, get their GED,
  and move on to additional training or jobs
• Keeps paperwork on project participants
• Site coaches
• Help students access programs
• Answer basic questions related to programs, or
  refer participants to on-line tutoring help
• Record-keeping

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Admission into Program

• Participants can be referred by One-Stop Center
  staff
• They can be referred by community organizations
• They must take the TABE Test
• Their TABE scores must be at least
• Reading 6.0
• Language 5.0
• Math 4.0

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Participant Orientations

• Basic computer skills
• Computer workshops
• Site coach assistance
• On-line computer lessons
• Computer application programs
• Use of multicasting software (HorizonLive)
• Use of software programs (PACEware, Contemporary
  GED and Pre-GED, SkillsTutor)
• Course management (WebCT)

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Lab Set-up Equipment

• Up to 19 computers with GED preparation software,
  as well as software for Adult Basic Education
  (Reading, Math, Language) and Employability
  Skills (Workforce Readiness Skills training).
  Some have ESL
• Use of headsets for audio interactivity.
• Printer, calculators, print materials for test
  preparation, server for database/records.

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Timeline

• 2002
• May Memorandum of Understanding between M-DCC
  and SFW
• August Open House at Carol City
• August 27 Carol City e-Reach opens
• October On-line classes begin
• November North Side e-Reach opens
• December West Dade e-Reach opens
• 2003
• March 2 GED graduates!
• October Edgewater e-Reach opens
• November (projected) Perrine e-Reach opens
• More GED graduates!
• 2004
• September 30, grant ends. Project continues

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Project Numbers

• Over 1,000 participants have been referred by
  their case managers or recruited by e-reach
  staff.
• 500 have taken the TABE test.
• Majority (75) are One Stop clients (but varies
  according to Center)

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Expected Outcomes

• Improvement in participants basic skills
• Participants obtaining of high school diplomas
  (GED)
• Improved employability skills and job placements
• Participants development of basic technological
  skills
• Improvement in participants English
  communication skills.

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Recent Outcomes

• 13 students raised their grade level (based on
  State of Florida checklists)
• 23 students raised their grade level (based on
  TABE score results)
• 9 GED graduates since April

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Recent Outcomes
GED graduate from North Side location with the
Retention Specialist. Plans to enter M-DCC to
become a middle school math teacher. GED graduate
from Carol City to enter Navy in January.
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Variables Under Study

• Number of children and ages
• 40 of the 51 women (78) in the 18-24 age group
  at NorthSide had at least one child under the age
  of 8. Data to be collected on retention rate.
• Goal orientation of participants
• Questionnaire being input
• Perceived past accomplishments
• Job skills and previous employment
• Effect of non-present instructor on learning

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Variables Under Study (cont.)

• Educational History
• The closer to Grade 12, the more likely to
  continue in program (48 of attendees at
  NorthSide got to Grades 11-12 vs. 24 of project
  non-attendees.
• Language proficiency (native language)
• English, Spanish, Haitian Creole
• Language Most frequently studied modules in PACE
• Perceived barriers and tools to overcome barriers
• Child care and Transportation are major barriers
• Cohort Groups develop that stimulate some to
  continue

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II. Interactivity in Synchronous Distance Classes
in e-Reach

• HorizonLive offers several built-in features for
  interactivity
• Instructor-Student
• Student-Student

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Instructor-Student Interactivity

• Polling Features
• Multiple-Choice
• Short Essay
• Messaging Feature

• Share Application
• Two-Way Audio
• Toolbar Enabling

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Student-Student Interactivity

• Messaging feature
• Avoids disruptions caused by student
  conversations

• Two-way audio
• Break-out rooms

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Science Class
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Math Class
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III. Teacher Considerations Regarding
Interactivity

• Many students participate MORE ((because they are
  not in physical presence of classmates))
• Need to provide more opportunities for
  interaction

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For More Information

• The e-Reach website
• http//www.mdcc.edu/kendall/ce/eReach/index.html
• E-mail us
• eReach_at_mdcc.edu
• Marta Bret, Instructor
• mbret_at_mdc.edu
• Frank Quebbemann, Project Consultant
• fquebbem_at_mdc.edu

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Thank you