Creating Virtual Creating Virtual Instructors for Instructors for MathematicsMathematics

The Exponential PrincipleThe Exponential PrincipleConstructivism - Constructivism - J. BrunerJ. Bruner (1966) (1966)

http://www.pindling.org/Math/Video/exponential_principle.html

http://www.pindling.org/RT

The Virtual InstructorThe Virtual Instructor

• Think about the greatest Think about the greatest teacher you knew / know.teacher you knew / know.

• What made that teacher What made that teacher great?great?

• If that teacher were to appear If that teacher were to appear to us online today would he / to us online today would he / she be still great?she be still great?

HowHow Students View the Students View the InternetInternet

• A A virtual textbookvirtual textbook and reference and reference library library

• A A virtual tutorvirtual tutor and study shortcut and study shortcut

• A A virtual study groupvirtual study group

• A A virtual guidance counselorvirtual guidance counselor

• A A virtual lockervirtual locker, backpack, and , backpack, and notebook.notebook.

78% of children between the age of 12 and 17 go online (Levin & Arafeh, 2002).

"As every thinking teacher knows, the trouble with education is that

it is too often about teaching and not enough about learning."

Evans, Peter and Deeham, Geoff, In The Descent of Mind

Instructors’ Roles OnlineInstructors’ Roles Online

• Helping students acquire (or construct) Helping students acquire (or construct) knowledge,knowledge,

• Assisting students to understand and Assisting students to understand and take greater control of their learning take greater control of their learning processes,processes,

• Providing students with emotional Providing students with emotional support and motivation, andsupport and motivation, and

• Carrying out administration and Carrying out administration and organizational duties..organizational duties..

(Annand & Haughey, 1997)

Required Skills for Online Required Skills for Online InstructorsInstructors

• Generic Skills (in educational disciplines)Generic Skills (in educational disciplines)• Core Distance Education, DE skills (DE, Core Distance Education, DE skills (DE,

analysis and course development)analysis and course development)• Specific DE skills (e.g., specific use of Specific DE skills (e.g., specific use of

technology, issues related to specific technology, issues related to specific interest, etc.)interest, etc.)

• Cognate DE skills (e.g., computer Cognate DE skills (e.g., computer programming, understanding of learning programming, understanding of learning and instructional theory, statistical skills, and instructional theory, statistical skills, etc.)etc.)

(Ally & Coldeway, 1999) – DE is Distance Education

Mathematics and Virtual Mathematics and Virtual LearningLearning

• Mathematics requires the active Mathematics requires the active participation of the student participation of the student

• Mathematics is well adapted to self-Mathematics is well adapted to self-directed learningdirected learning

• Mathematics requires a student to Mathematics requires a student to master certain topics before master certain topics before proceeding to new topicsproceeding to new topics

(Strasser, 2000)

2x+10=y

Problem 1Problem 1

If a times a equal 4, what is a?

The Virtual Instructor ToolkitThe Virtual Instructor Toolkit

• DynamicDynamic Textbook (Non-Linear) Textbook (Non-Linear)

• InteractiveInteractive Homework Assignments Homework Assignments

• Video Learning (Video Learning (Game / FunGame / Fun))

• e-Study (e-Study (Instant FeedbackInstant Feedback))

• Learning - Learning - By ExampleBy Example

• Visual Learning Tools (Visual Learning Tools (Visual / GraphicsVisual / Graphics))

• Community Learning (Community Learning (WorkshopsWorkshops))

• The Multimedia Instructor (The Multimedia Instructor (Almost LiveAlmost Live))

Dynamic TextbookDynamic Textbook

• Non-Linear LearningNon-Linear Learning

• Drill-downDrill-down for more details for more details

• Multi-learning Opportunities (Multi-learning Opportunities (Tony’s ResearchTony’s Research))

• Eliminates Eliminates note taking note taking – offsets – offsets short term learningshort term learning

• Interactive text Interactive text – optimize learning– optimize learning

Interactive HomeworkInteractive Homework

• Provides Immediate FeedbackProvides Immediate Feedback

• Adjusts to Student Performance / Adjusts to Student Performance / KnowledgeKnowledge

• Provides a Forum to Practice Concepts / Provides a Forum to Practice Concepts / Application (Application (Learn by DoingLearn by Doing))

• Provides for Instructor’s Interaction with Provides for Instructor’s Interaction with StudentsStudents

• Analyzes Areas of Concerns Analyzes Areas of Concerns

• Optimizes Various Learning StylesOptimizes Various Learning Styles

Problem 2Problem 2

Fill in each box (blue) with a number from 1 to 8 (no duplicates).

No numbered box should have a number adjacent to it (also diagonal) that is one more than itself (e.g. 4 cannot be next to 5).

Multimedia ToolkitMultimedia Toolkit

• Interactive Educational Video GamesInteractive Educational Video Games– e-Math (Wiley)e-Math (Wiley)– Simulated Learning Video GamesSimulated Learning Video Games

• Learning Learning by examplesby examples– Math text now have more worked out examples andMath text now have more worked out examples and– answers to every problemanswers to every problem– Studies show that student Studies show that student learn math betterlearn math better by examples by examples

• Lectures OnlineLectures Online– Lecture NotesLecture Notes– StreamingStreaming VideoVideo / / AudioAudio

• Interactive Learning ToolsInteractive Learning Tools– Math Function Graphing (Math Function Graphing (MathGvMathGv))– Interactive Online ToolsInteractive Online Tools

• Learning CommunitiesLearning Communities– WebCTWebCT– BlackboardBlackboard

ReferencesReferences

http://www.pindling.org/Math/Video/ref/de_biblio.html

End of PresentationEnd of Presentation

Towards the Creation ofTowards the Creation ofA great virtual instructor A great virtual instructor

is first a great physical instructor!is first a great physical instructor!The Virtual Instructor is an integration of:

1. Technology – hardware and software2. The Instructor’s Presence

a. Intellectual Essence (knowledge transfer)b. Perceived Physical Presencec. Ability to Interact Online

3. Student Interactions4. Virtual Communication Between Student and

InstructorPindling, 2000