Three Simple Steps to Building Online Learning Communities

Concurrent Session 4
Streamed Session

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Session Materials

Brief Abstract

An active learning community in the online classroom keeps your students engaged in their learning experience and leads to higher levels of student satisfaction.   In this session, participants will examine how to build and nurture online learning communities in three simple steps of 1) content development, 2) course design on the LMS, and 3) instructor presence and how they all play a significant role in all learning communities.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Peggy Moore, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Over 20 years in adult education and curriculum development. Online learning is my modality and I partner with e-learning developers to implement best practices in instructional design and educational pedagogy for teaching and learning.

Co-presenter: Analisa McMillan, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Co-presenter: Kimberly Michael, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Kim is the Anderson Distinguished Professor and the Associate Director of the Interprofessional Academy of Educators at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has been involved in sonography education at UNMC since 1991 and has served as the Director of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography education program since 1998. Kim is a Fellow in the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, currently serving on its board of directors, the SDMS Foundation and multiple committees. She is an active member of the Nebraska Society of Radiologic Technologists, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences. She has authored more than 40 publications related to sonographic clinical practice and education and has presented at numerous state, national, and international conferences. Her research interests include open book testing, mindfulness in the classroom, and simulation in medical education.

Extended Abstract

An active learning community in the online classroom keeps your students engaged in their learning experience and leads to higher levels of student satisfaction.   In this session, participants will examine how to build and nurture online learning comunities in three simple steps of 1) content development, 2) course design on the LMS, and 3) instructor presence and how they all play a significant role in all learning communities. Discuss, formulate, and assess effective strategies to build or improve an online learning community that supports quality learner-learner and instructor-learner interactions.

The active learning community includes engaged students that participate in the discussion, reflection, and the sharing of knowledge that happens in an online community environment.

Humans are social learners and in some online courses interaction among instructors and peers is lacking. This session will give participants the basics of why having an online learning community is vital to both the students and instructors. Based upon common researchIdeas will be shared for novice and seasoned instructors on how to make their courses more engaging for all learners. Building meaningful discussions, reflections, opportunities for sharing and helping peers in your course are the base of an online learning community. We will discuss how purposeful, common research-based strategies plays a key role for the online instructor in the building of the learning community from the course content development, the course build on the LMS and their instructor presence throughout the semester.

Participants will engage in small group activity, sharing and thinking about learning communities in the online classroom.  This BYOD session will using polling, discussion, and report-outs on how to improve and effectively build an online learning community for satisfied students.