Online Learning Education Strategies Module 3
VIDEO
Determining the objectives for an assignment
It is important to have a clear understanding of the learning goals for an assignment before beginning the task. To do this, it is helpful to carefully read the assignment and ask yourself questions such as:
What is the task that needs to be completed?
Why has the instructor asked you to do this specific task?
Who is the intended audience for the assignment?
What evidence is required to support your ideas?
What writing style is expected?
Are there any specific guidelines that must be followed?
If you are unsure about any aspect of the assignment, it is important to ask the instructor for clarification. By thoroughly understanding the learning goals, you will be better able to successfully complete the assignment.
Understanding the requirements of an assignment
It is important to carefully read the assignment requirements and identify the specific task that needs to be completed. This may involve identifying relevant theories, formulas, and graphics, as well as conducting any necessary research. There are several terms that may be used to indicate the type of task that needs to be completed, including:
Identification terms: These may include words such as "cite," "define," "enumerate," "give," "identify," "indicate," "list," "mention," "name," or "state." These terms may indicate that the assignment requires you to provide a list or brief summary of specific information.
Description terms: Words such as "describe," "discuss," "review," "summarize," "diagram," "illustrate," "sketch," "develop," "outline," or "trace" may indicate that the assignment requires you to provide a more detailed description or explanation of a concept or process.
Relation terms: "Analyze," "compare," "contrast," "differentiate," "distinguish," or "relate" may indicate that the assignment requires you to examine the relationships between different concepts or ideas.
Demonstration terms: "Demonstrate," "explain why," "justify," "prove," "show," or "support" may indicate that the assignment requires you to provide evidence or examples to support your ideas.
Evaluation terms: "Assess," "comment," "criticize," "evaluate," "interpret," or "propose" may indicate that the assignment requires you to make judgments or evaluations based on your analysis of the material.
By understanding the specific task that needs to be completed, you will be better able to successfully complete the assignment. If you are unsure about the requirements of the assignment, it is important to ask your instructor for clarification.
Assessing the quality of your work using a grading criteria tool - Rubric
A rubric is a tool used by instructors to evaluate the quality of student work. It outlines the criteria that will be used to assess the assignment, and can help you understand what is expected of you. It is important to carefully review the rubric and assignment instructions before you start working on the assignment. This will help you ensure that you are meeting all of the requirements and avoid wasting time on work that does not meet the necessary guidelines.
After you have completed a draft of the assignment, it is also helpful to use the rubric to self-evaluate your work. This will allow you to identify any areas where you may not have met the criteria as well as you could have, and make any necessary revisions before submitting the assignment. For example, if the rubric specifies that the assignment should include a clear and well-organized structure, you might review your draft to ensure that your paper is well-organized and easy to follow. Or, if the rubric states that the assignment should demonstrate a deep understanding of the material, you might review your work to ensure that you have thoroughly explained and analyzed the concepts being covered.
Using the rubric as a guide can help you produce higher quality work that meets the instructor's expectations. If you have any questions about the rubric or the assignment instructions, it is always a good idea to clarify these with your instructor.
Using a rubric to evaluate online school work
A rubric outlines the criteria that will be used to assess the assignment, and can help you understand what is expected of you. To use a rubric, follow these steps:
Review the rubric: Carefully read through the rubric to understand the criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Make sure you understand what is expected in each category.
Use the rubric as a guide: As you work on the assignment, use the rubric as a guide to ensure that you are meeting all of the necessary criteria. For example, if the rubric specifies that the assignment should include a clear and well-organized structure, make sure that your work is well-organized and easy to follow.
Self-evaluate: After you have completed a draft of the assignment, use the rubric to self-evaluate your work. Identify any areas where you may not have met the criteria as well as you could have, and make any necessary revisions.
Clarify any confusion: If you have any questions about the rubric or the assignment instructions, it is always a good idea to clarify these with your instructor.
Here are a few examples of how a rubric might be used to evaluate different types of assignments:
Research paper: A rubric for a research paper might include criteria such as the quality of the research, the organization of the paper, the use of appropriate citations, and the overall clarity of the writing.
Presentation: A rubric for a presentation might include criteria such as the effectiveness of the visual aids, the clarity of the speaker's delivery, the relevance of the content, and the overall impact of the presentation.
Project: A rubric for a project might include criteria such as the creativity and originality of the project, the thoroughness of the research, the effectiveness of the final product, and the quality of the presentation.
Create a detailed plan to accomplish your school work
Once you have a clear understanding of the assignment requirements, it is helpful to break the task down into smaller, more manageable steps. This can make the process of completing the assignment less overwhelming and increase your chances of success.
To divide the assignment into smaller steps, try using the following guidelines:
Create steps that can be completed in one day, or even a single work period if possible.
Make sure each step is specific and achievable.
Here is an example of how you might break down a research paper assignment into smaller steps:
Choose a topic and conduct initial research to gather background information.
Create an outline to organize your thoughts and ideas.
Write a rough draft of the introduction and first body paragraph.
Conduct further research to gather evidence and support for your argument.
Write a rough draft of the remaining body paragraphs.
Write a rough draft of the conclusion.
Edit and revise your paper to improve the organization, clarity, and overall quality of the writing.
Proofread your final draft for grammar and spelling errors.
Submit the completed paper.
By breaking the assignment down into smaller, more manageable steps, you can make the task feel more achievable and increase your chances of success.
Here is a detailed 30-day plan that can help you get and idea on how to write your own assignment guide.
Day 1: Review the course syllabus and schedule to familiarize yourself with the course requirements and deadlines. Set up a study schedule that includes dedicated time for each course.
Day 2-4: Begin working on the first assignment. Start by carefully reading the assignment instructions and identifying the learning goals. Make a list of any questions you have and reach out to the instructor for clarification if needed.
Day 5-10: Continue working on the first assignment. Use the rubric to guide your work and make sure you are meeting all of the necessary criteria. As you work, break the assignment down into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, you might spend one day conducting research, one day creating an outline, and one day writing a rough draft.
Day 11-15: Review and revise the first assignment. Use the rubric to self-evaluate your work and identify any areas where you may not have met the criteria as well as you could have. Make any necessary revisions and proofread for grammar and spelling errors.
Day 16-20: Begin working on the second assignment. Follow the same process as the first assignment, carefully reading the instructions, identifying the learning goals, and breaking the task down into smaller steps.
Day 21-25: Review and revise the second assignment. Use the rubric to self-evaluate your work and make any necessary revisions.
Day 26-30: Use the remaining days to catch up on any coursework that is behind schedule, review previous assignments, or get ahead on future assignments. Make sure to also set aside time for breaks and self-care activities to help manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Create a similar 30-day plan that fits your school lifestyle. You can increase your chances of success as an online student if have a guide in place. It is important to stay organized, manage your time effectively, and seek help when needed to ensure that you are able to complete all of your coursework on time and to the best of your ability.
Use feedback to progress and improve
Throughout the learning process, it is important to consider the purpose of feedback and use it to evaluate your progress and adjust your learning strategies. In the university setting, feedback may come in the form of grades and instructor comments on assignments and exams. By reflecting on this feedback and considering your goals, you can make adjustments to improve your performance in current and future courses.
One good opportunity for self-evaluation is after you have received feedback on your first midterm exam. At this point in the course, you have likely gained a better understanding of the material and the expectations of the instructor. By reviewing your exam results and the feedback provided, you can identify any areas where you may have struggled and consider strategies for improving your performance on future exams. For example, you might consider seeking additional help from the instructor or a tutor, reviewing the material more thoroughly, or revising your study habits. By taking an active role in your own learning and using feedback to inform your decisions, you can move forward and make progress towards your goals.
If you have identified areas for growth and improvement, it is important to consider new learning strategies and seek out the resources that can help you achieve your goals. This may involve seeking additional help from online learning platforms, workshops, tutoring, classmates, or the instructor. By building a strong support network and seeking out the resources that can help you succeed, you can effectively respond to feedback and make progress towards your new goals.
At the end of a course, it is also helpful to reflect on what you have learned and how it will be useful in the future. Consider how the knowledge and skills you have gained will help you in your next courses and in your future career. Additionally, think about how you can apply what you have learned to other aspects of your life. By regularly reflecting on feedback and evaluating your learning, you can avoid getting stuck in unproductive patterns and contribute to your own ongoing personal growth and development. This will support your success in future courses and other endeavors.
Actively Reading more information
In online learning, it is common to interact with a large amount of written material. This can be beneficial for your development as a lifelong learner, as it can help you improve your skills in selecting relevant reading material, approaching it in a purposeful way, and managing the information you read.
To effectively approach reading in online learning, consider the following principles:
Not all reading material requires equal time or attention. When reading for professional purposes, you may need to focus on finding and using relevant information, rather than reading every word of the material. Some information may require a close and careful reading, while other information may be skimmed to find key points.
Before you begin reading, identify your purpose for reading. This will help you determine how to approach the material and focus on the most important information.
Use questions to guide your reading. A strategy called SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) can be helpful in using questions to focus your reading and better understand the material.
Develop a system for identifying important information and taking notes. This may involve using strategies such as highlighting or taking notes to mark key learnings in the texts you read. It is also important to organize this information in a way that makes it easy to access and review later.
By following these principles, you can improve your skills in strategic reading and effectively manage the large amount of written material you may encounter in online learning.
Analyzing the SQ3R technique for effective reading
To read textbooks effectively and efficiently, it is helpful to use a strategy such as the SQ3R approach. This method stands for:
Survey: Skim the textbook to get an overview of the content and identify key sections. Survey, which allows you to get an overview of the chapter and understand the main ideas you will learn by reading. During this step, you should:
Read the Learning Objectives or chapter introduction to understand the goals of the chapter.
Skim the chapter summary at the end of the chapter to get a sense of the main points covered.
Review the study questions at the end of the chapter to understand the key concepts you will need to understand.
Skim the chapter headings and any important diagrams or charts to get a sense of the structure and organization of the chapter.
Question: Formulate questions based on the main ideas and specific details you identified in the survey. To begin reading a chapter effectively, it's important to have a clear understanding of what you hope to learn by reading. This can be achieved by creating a question using the five Ws (who, what, where, when, and why). For example, if the first chapter heading is "The History of Transportation," you may ask yourself: "What is the history of transportation, and how has it evolved over time?" This will help guide your reading and ensure that you are focused on the information that is most relevant to your needs. Additionally, asking yourself these kinds of questions can also help you better understand and retain the information that you read.
Read: Read the text more closely, focusing on the answers to the questions you have formulated. Once you have formulated a clear question or set of questions to guide your reading, the next step is to actually begin reading the text. This is where you will gather the information you need to answer your questions and fulfill the purpose of your reading. It is important to focus on the content that is most relevant to your needs, rather than getting distracted by extraneous information. One helpful technique for staying focused is to actively engage with the material by underlining or highlighting key points, taking notes, or summarizing what you have read in your own words. This can help you better understand and retain the information, as well as stay on track as you work to answer your guiding questions.
Recite: Explain the main ideas and specific details in your own words. This can help you better understand and remember the material. After you have finished reading a section of text, it can be helpful to summarize the main points in your own words. This is known as "recitation" and can be a useful tool for reinforcing your understanding of the material. To practice recitation, try explaining the key concepts or ideas you have just read out loud, either to yourself or to someone else. Alternatively, you can write a summary of the material in your notes. This process of restating the information in your own words can help you better comprehend and retain the material, as well as identify any areas where you may need further clarification. Additionally, the act of explaining a concept to someone else can be a helpful way to gauge your own understanding of the material and identify any gaps in your knowledge.
Review: Review and summarize the main points of the chapter. After you have completed your reading and recitation of a chapter, it is important to take some time to review and reflect on the material. This can help you solidify your understanding of the concepts and ensure that you have a comprehensive grasp of the material. One effective way to review is to look back at your notes and think about how the various concepts fit together. This can help you see the "big picture" and understand the relationships between different ideas. You may also want to fill in any gaps in your knowledge by looking up additional information or asking questions. Finally, it can be helpful to quiz yourself or test your understanding of the material by attempting practice problems or discussing the concepts with others. All of these review techniques can help you better retain the information and prepare for any assessments you may have on the material.
By using the SQ3R strategy, you can approach a textbook in a more focused and efficient way, paying more attention to the most important information and minimizing the time spent on less relevant material. This can help you better understand and retain the information you read.
Applying what you've learned -Apply the SQ3R method
Now that you have a good understanding of the SQ3R Method, you may want to try using it to read a text this week. The method involves five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. To apply these steps, you can first survey the material by skimming the headings and subheadings to get an overview of the content. Next, formulate specific questions to guide your reading and help you focus on the most relevant information. Then, read the text carefully, actively engaging with the material by underlining or highlighting key points and taking notes. After reading each section, try reciting the main points in your own words, either out loud or in writing. Finally, review your notes and reflect on how the different concepts fit together. You can also test your understanding by attempting practice problems or discussing the material with others. By following these steps, you will be well-equipped to effectively read and understand the text.