Welcome!Welcome!

Please comment, ask Please comment, ask questions at any time!questions at any time!

Please comment, ask Please comment, ask questions at any time!questions at any time!

During this session…During this session…During this session…During this session…

FirstClass

• FirstClass (FRED, LearnLink) is an online collaborative learning/communications environment.

• one of 3 main LMSs at Mohawk, 2 at McMaster

What is it?

• F - FirstClass

• R - Remote

• E - Education

• D – Delivery

It is an LMS/communication platform uniquely suited to support both blended and distance ed course delivery.

What it does…

• Enables

• Facilitates

• Promotes

• Maintains

…virtual teaching and learning communities .

Who

• Over 6,000 active users

• 12 Programs and departments

• +180 Courses

• 4 campuses

(Brantford, Stoney Creek, IAHS and Fennell)

How

You can use FirstClass at many different levels to create your Virtual Classroom

• email, messaging, chatting, calendaring, file sharing, voice messaging

• announcement posting• assignment posting• conferencing and group work• assignment submissions• resource sharing• content sharing, link sharing• posting marks• group scheduling• web publishing• web interface

Where

Lets Go!

• Brantford

• Stoney Creek

• IAHS - LearnLink

Conclusions

• Start small and integrate features and content as you need to

• Keep it simple and then grow into it• The ‘look’ matters, pay attention to small

details• Review the draft template to assist in

developing the initial structure• Make its use mandatory• Arrange for a student orientation• Teach from FirstClass• Encourage students to help each other and

promote discussion and course interactivity• Continue to ask and learn about new features

and improved course delivery.

Where to go for Help

• http://fred.mohawkc.on.ca

• Workshops• IAR Learning Technologies course

• Course Development Support

• Andrew Connery – FirstClass System Administrator

• Pat Anderchek- Faculty Liaison • Student and Tool Support

-Angie Penev, Help Desk

Questions?

Thanks…

Jan Olson, Robert Deeks and Darlene Saratsiotis for their willingness to share their First year on FirstClass

Presentation:

Content: Andrew Connery & Pat Anderchek

structure elements

Q and A forum

Q and A archive Resources folder

(ppt files, documents, links, spreadsheets, etc.)

Group ChatChat archive

folder

Submissions folder(places to post assignments)

General Information folder

(course outline, schedule,

evaluation instruments)

Group Calendar

Place for your Content(organized by Module,

or Week, or Assignment…)