YouPrep: An Online Course for New Educators
Learning Environment Design Project
Design of the Learning Environment
In this section will provide an overview and analysis of the learning environment, both virtual and physical, the goals and objectives of the course, as well as the typologies and how they all relate to each other. It will then go on to describe how the design choices optimize learning.
Description of the Learning Environment
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YouPrep: An Online Course for New Educators will take place in both physical and virtual environments in the form of flipped instruction. The asynchronous virtual environment will be administered through online modules created using Articulate StoryLine. Each online module will cover a different major learning task such as “create a classroom management plan” or “plan an explicit direct instruction lesson”.
The Virtual Environment
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During each module participants will listen to the pre-recorded lecture which is broken down into segments with accompanying graphics and notes on the screen.
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Throughout each module there will be checkpoints where a question will be asked for a knowledge self-check so participants can make sure they are grasping the material. At the end of each module there will be a summative assessment quiz based on what what discussed in the modules.
The Physical Environment
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The physical, synchronous, in-person portion of the YouPrep course will take place after each module. All participants will meet at a designated time after school hours in the classroom of one of the participants. In the classroom they will sit at a large table conducive to collaborative - group work. During these sessions the instructor will lead discussions and activities pertaining to the information given in the module.
Learning Environment Design Decisions
The Virtual Environment
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By utilizing the flipped instruction model teachers will be required to complete the virtual, asynchronous portion of the course on their own time before the live meeting. This will give them the freedom throughout each module to view the online lectures and readings when they are available rather than when forced.
The Physical Environment
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The second part of the course will take place in the classroom of a different teacher each week. This allows each teacher to exhibit their rooms and allow the other participants to view and observe what each is doing. After completing the weekly module and implementing what they learned into their own classrooms throughout the week. The course instructor will lead discussion, review, and debrief the weekly modules.
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The classrooms at Fulton Elementary are small, but set up with large tables which foster collaboration. They offer the use of a Promethium board where videos and presentations can be shown.
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The physical portion of the course should consist of about one hour per week, so as not to make participants feel it is taking up a large block of their valuable time. Conversations and presentations shall be meaningful and purposeful.