MOVING THE CLASSROOM MOVING THE CLASSROOM ONLINEONLINE

A Luddite’s Lessons A Luddite’s Lessons LearnedLearned

Sixth Biennial International Business Sixth Biennial International Business Institute for Community College FacultyInstitute for Community College Faculty

Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University

TuesdayTuesday

17 May 200517 May 2005

2:45-3:30pm2:45-3:30pm

Mac McGuireMac McGuire

Program Coordinator ofProgram Coordinator of

IntInterernatnationionalal BusBusininessess

(Established 2001)(Established 2001)

atatForsyth Technical Community CollegeForsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, North CarolinaWinston-Salem, North Carolina

Ms. Ivey LambMs. Ivey LambClass of 2003Class of 2003

What’s a Luddite?What’s a Luddite?LudditesLuddites were craftsmen weavers in the were craftsmen weavers in the

early 1800s pre-industrial England who early 1800s pre-industrial England who rebelled violently against the automation rebelled violently against the automation of their industry. of their industry.

History shows that they weren’t very History shows that they weren’t very successful at halting the progress of their successful at halting the progress of their generation – anymore than are modern-generation – anymore than are modern-day Luddites who rebel against day Luddites who rebel against technology.technology.

PROGRESS!PROGRESS!

Computer TechnoloComputer Technologeegee Just a few years ago, I – along with Just a few years ago, I – along with

many (if not most) of my colleagues - many (if not most) of my colleagues - rebelled against the intrusion of rebelled against the intrusion of distance learning technology in distance learning technology in education. Most concerns were about education. Most concerns were about the quality. the quality.

(But there was a lot of (But there was a lot of egoego involved too.)involved too.)

A Reformed LudditeA Reformed Luddite

Ten Ten GoodGood Reasons for Online Reasons for Online EducationEducation

1.1. You reach students that can’t otherwise come to class.You reach students that can’t otherwise come to class. 2.2. Shy classroom students frequently blossom online.Shy classroom students frequently blossom online.3.3. ESL students have more time to translate what they don’t ESL students have more time to translate what they don’t

understand.understand.4.4. You become a more thoughtful and prepared teacher.You become a more thoughtful and prepared teacher.5.5. Student-teacher relationships are stronger because of the Student-teacher relationships are stronger because of the

additional sharing which comes across as 1 on 1.additional sharing which comes across as 1 on 1. 6.6. Your instruction will become more consistent.Your instruction will become more consistent.7.7. Everything is documented.Everything is documented.8.8. Participation is a necessary condition by the medium. Participation is a necessary condition by the medium. 9.9. Scheduling conflicts become a thing of the past.Scheduling conflicts become a thing of the past.10.10. There are few interruptions for any reason except for There are few interruptions for any reason except for

those YOU choose.those YOU choose.

Good teachers are good teachers Good teachers are good teachers (In the classroom or online)(In the classroom or online)

– Analyze what you do to inspire learning in the Analyze what you do to inspire learning in the classroom (I’ll bet it can be done online)classroom (I’ll bet it can be done online)

PacePaceLecturesLecturesSupplemental ReadingsSupplemental ReadingsText ReadingsText ReadingsWeb explorationWeb explorationVideosVideosIndividual ConferencesIndividual ConferencesDiscussionsDiscussionsResearch ProjectsResearch ProjectsHomeworkHomeworkTestsTests

Decide what learning elements are essential to a Decide what learning elements are essential to a classroom and build them into your online courseclassroom and build them into your online course

Everyone has different hot buttons.Everyone has different hot buttons.These are mine:These are mine:

TechnologyTechnologySocialSocialResearchResearchCommunicationsCommunicationsAssessmentAssessment

Here’s how I addressed them:Here’s how I addressed them:

Module Support

Structure your courseStructure your course(But don’t smother it!) (But don’t smother it!)

– Introduce discussion topics that stimulate their Introduce discussion topics that stimulate their interests and reward them for their successful interests and reward them for their successful participation.participation.

– Set up rules! (No politics, etc)Set up rules! (No politics, etc)– Focus on the broad topic Focus on the broad topic – Jump in to spark, clarify or to keep it on course Jump in to spark, clarify or to keep it on course – Relate topics to text or assigned readingsRelate topics to text or assigned readings– Require postings on multiple days to foster discussions.Require postings on multiple days to foster discussions.– Award points accordingly for minimal and maximal Award points accordingly for minimal and maximal

effort according to your DEFINED and POSTED criteria.effort according to your DEFINED and POSTED criteria.– Provide a voluntary forum for off-topic posts to avoid Provide a voluntary forum for off-topic posts to avoid

censorship and provide a safety valve.censorship and provide a safety valve.– Require reliable sources of information. (govs, edus, Require reliable sources of information. (govs, edus,

orgs)orgs)– Establish limits (Remember Marvin H!)Establish limits (Remember Marvin H!)

Discussion Board RulesDiscussion Board - 15 points MOD 2 DB INT 110 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS © Copyright 2004 G.R. McGuireBackground:

The cultural environment has a profound influence on international business. The firms that are most successful in global commerce are also the most knowledgeable about their market’s culture. Obviously, the best way to learn about a culture is to live within it.

Issue For Discussion:How can small international firms with very limited resources learn how to conduct business with firms from other cultures WITHOUT going broke. Be specific and be sure to give proper credit to your sources.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Post your opening response to the question early in the assignment period (but only within the assignment period as per the class schedule – not before or after please) so that others have time to respond to you. A thoughtful opening response will consider information from your reading and written assignments, as well as other related information you may have found. Please, no political commentary; stick to the topic and if you digress, return to it quickly.

Support your postings with data wherever possible. Each bit of data must be sourced. Only the domains .govs, .edus, and .orgs will count for points, though you may also use .coms but just be aware that they do not receive quality points.

For a top score, you must post three satisfactory responses on each of three different days (aka: 3 X 3 rule – that’s a total of 9 postings per module). Three satisfactory (See: COURSE INFORMATION/HOW THIS COURSE WORKS/PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUMS) responses per day posted on Monday, Thursday, and Friday all count and meet the requirement for a top score. Due to administrative constraints, students are limited to a maximum of 15 postings per module.

And more rules…

Points for DiscussionsAwarding DB Points: Criteria for DB Grading under 3 X 3 Rule (MAX: 15 Points)• Satisfactory postings (9 points maximum): 1 point each for first nine under 3X3

posting rules • Content criteria (6 Points maximum): 2/3 points each if

• Statistical evidence is used to illustrate (.gov, .edu, .org. ONLY)• Responding to another posting in a way that furthers the topic’s discussion in a

scholarly fashion as evidenced by the discussion threads• The posting is highly exceptional in thought and expression or is otherwise

deserving of recognition• The maximum points per posting is 15/9 = 2/3 = 1.66 (Up to 1 point each for the first

nine satisfactory postings and up to 2/3 points each for content criteria. )• EXAMPLE of Actual DB Comments that do not satisfy the criteria (and thus earn zero

points):– I can agree with this reasoning. – Very interesting – Good story – I could not have said that any better – Very interesting reasoning – I could not agree more.

Assessment (keeping score)

Whatever you do, don’t do this:Whatever you do, don’t do this:Create a correspondence courseCreate a correspondence courseBe unavailable and/or uncommunicative Be unavailable and/or uncommunicative Be impatient and/or rigidBe impatient and/or rigidBecome complacentBecome complacentLower the standardLower the standardUnderestimate workloads (yours & theirs)Underestimate workloads (yours & theirs)Be afraid to take risks (Everything I’ve Be afraid to take risks (Everything I’ve ever learned about Distance Learning I’ve ever learned about Distance Learning I’ve learned from failure)learned from failure)Stop having fun!Stop having fun!

If I can HELP…If I can HELP…Mac McGuireMac McGuire

mmcguire@bit.forsythtech.edummcguire@bit.forsythtech.eduOROR

MacMcGuire@Triad.rr.comMacMcGuire@Triad.rr.com

Forsyth Technical Community CollegeForsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem, North CarolinaWinston-Salem, North Carolina