LMS Modules
Using Your Institution's LMS to aid in Technology Training
Tech Training via the LMS
Using your institutions learning management system (LMS) to deliver tech training allows you to reach faculty who may not be available for traditional face-to-face professional development sessions. The use of the LMS also creates a permanent fixture that faculty and staff can access over and over again to grab quick "how-to" documents and videos, ideas for lesson and unit plans, assessment techniques, etc... Tech savvy instructors may only visit the LMS module once or twice, but for the employees that struggle a bit with technology and as a result their self-efficacy is a little lower, an LMS module allows them to browse through training material at their leisure. This will hopefully build their confidence with the technology in question.
This page will show snippets of a mocked up training course in our fictional institutions learning management system (LMS). Through the use of training documents (PDF), video tutorials (YouTube, Screencast, etc...), HTML pages and discussion boards an institution can produce a comprehensive training module on any piece of technology and make it widely available to all staff and faculty at the institution.
Gathering Some Intel
Before beginning with any technology training and preparation we would like to find out what the learner knows about their own technology skills and abilities. We will include a comprehensive technology survey to try and pinpoint exactly where teachers might struggle in their technology learning. Answering the survey may also have an unintended positive impact on an instructors opinion about their own technology skills. The survey should also aid in the meta cognition aspect of technology training. The survey for our training will be the Technology Uses and Perceptions Survey (TUPS).
Tech Training with Adult Learners
We wanted to ensure a system of technology training that aligned with our audience's specific needs. Using the LMS to create modules for specific technology allows our learners to interact with the materials provided in a time and way that makes sense for them. Dobrovolny (2006) states "Adult learners customize instruction to meet their needs, based on their prior experiences, their current responsibilities, and their expectations of future responsibilities" (Discussions and Implications, para. 9).
Deescalating Stress Levels
Koc and Bakir (2010) concluded that participants in their study indicated that "technology was frustrating to use when adequate support was not received" (p. 19). The use of the LMS technology training course allows faculty to thoroughly understand a piece of technology before integrating it into their learning environment. Due to the static nature of the how-to guides and videos available through the LMS will hopefully eliminate some of the uneasiness and stress involved in using a new technology as the resources are aggregated directly into the LMS the instructors are using for their classes already. Having the training materials side by side with their course materials ensures support is available when needed.
This page will show snippets of a mocked up training course in our fictional institutions learning management system (LMS). Through the use of training documents (PDF), video tutorials (YouTube, Screencast, etc...), HTML pages and discussion boards an institution can produce a comprehensive training module on any piece of technology and make it widely available to all staff and faculty at the institution.
Gathering Some Intel
Before beginning with any technology training and preparation we would like to find out what the learner knows about their own technology skills and abilities. We will include a comprehensive technology survey to try and pinpoint exactly where teachers might struggle in their technology learning. Answering the survey may also have an unintended positive impact on an instructors opinion about their own technology skills. The survey should also aid in the meta cognition aspect of technology training. The survey for our training will be the Technology Uses and Perceptions Survey (TUPS).
Tech Training with Adult Learners
We wanted to ensure a system of technology training that aligned with our audience's specific needs. Using the LMS to create modules for specific technology allows our learners to interact with the materials provided in a time and way that makes sense for them. Dobrovolny (2006) states "Adult learners customize instruction to meet their needs, based on their prior experiences, their current responsibilities, and their expectations of future responsibilities" (Discussions and Implications, para. 9).
Deescalating Stress Levels
Koc and Bakir (2010) concluded that participants in their study indicated that "technology was frustrating to use when adequate support was not received" (p. 19). The use of the LMS technology training course allows faculty to thoroughly understand a piece of technology before integrating it into their learning environment. Due to the static nature of the how-to guides and videos available through the LMS will hopefully eliminate some of the uneasiness and stress involved in using a new technology as the resources are aggregated directly into the LMS the instructors are using for their classes already. Having the training materials side by side with their course materials ensures support is available when needed.
LMS Screenshots
Here are some screenshots of our Technology 'x' modules in our LMS. The LMS used for this course was D2L.
Here are some screenshots of our Technology 'x' modules in our LMS. The LMS used for this course was D2L.
OverviewHere is a quick overview of the content section of our Technology Training course. Click the image for a larger view.
|
ResourcesHere is the same module but with the sub modules expanded to show the resources. Click the image for a larger view.
|
Community BuildingHere is the "Community Building" portion of the course. Users can post in the discussion boards asking for help, or answering other user's questions. Dropbox folders are also available for uploading documents. Click the image for a larger view.
|
References
Dobrovolny, J. (2006). How adults learn from self-paced, technology-based corporate training: New focus for learners, new focus for designers. Distance Education, 27(2), 155-170. doi:10.1080/01587910600789506
Koc, M., & Bakir, N. (2010). A needs assessment survey to investigate pre-service teachers' knowledge, experiences and perceptions about preparation to using educational technologies. TOJET : The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/1288355613?accountid=14694
TIM: The Technology Integration Matrix | A video resource supporting the full integration of technology in Florida schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/tups
Dobrovolny, J. (2006). How adults learn from self-paced, technology-based corporate training: New focus for learners, new focus for designers. Distance Education, 27(2), 155-170. doi:10.1080/01587910600789506
Koc, M., & Bakir, N. (2010). A needs assessment survey to investigate pre-service teachers' knowledge, experiences and perceptions about preparation to using educational technologies. TOJET : The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/1288355613?accountid=14694
TIM: The Technology Integration Matrix | A video resource supporting the full integration of technology in Florida schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/tups