Use of web conferencing tools in managing risk of disengagement by online

learners.

Bernard Pennington

Some Housekeeping…

Some students become disengaged from online learning…• Where they engaged in the first place?

• Is it a problem with learning style?

• Is online learning too technical?

• Did they become disengaged as time went on?• Is it a problem with the technology?

• Is it a problem with the task?

Analysis

•Possible Causes:• Common misconception…

ICT skills = eLearning• No other options available• 3 years of glorious PowerPoint heaven.

•…But these are ‘Digital Natives’….?

Digital Natives…(Prensky 2001, 2005)

Do they learn any differently?

Digital Natives Debate

How are they different?

Is it an age thing?

Is it a Design thing?

Any thoughts…?

What if technology was simply a contributing factor…?

Biggs’ SOLO Taxonomy (2007, p79)

The Theory

• Students who thrive better in f2f sessions but who are unable to attend classroom sessions…• …will be able to better engage with learning materials

via web conferencing than by accessing standard web materials.

The Pilot

• Anaesthetic CPD module delivered f2f on Thursday 0930 – 1230…

• …delivered again via web-conferencing (WIMBA) following Saturday 0930 - 1230

Outcome Measures

• Record attendance

• Record level of engagement• Learning module

• Online Quiz

• Discussion Activity

Implementation

• Create Wimba session within BlackBoard

• Induction to web-conferencing• ALL students on induction to module

• Controlled environment

• Get up early on a Saturday

• Record measures.

What could possibly go wrong?

• Early warning signs…

…they really didn’t like it.

Results

• Very little participation via web conferencing.

• Students using web conferencing as a tutorial option.

What did we learn from this..?

• Treat cause not symptom.

• Think long and hard before repurposing eLearning

• Don’t offer too much at once.

How did such a fantastic and well-thought out plan fail…?

• Possible causes:

• The problem isn’t real for some students

• eLearning is eLearning

Summary

Problem

Solution

Pilot

Pilot Fails

Problem still exists…

Conclusion

• Web conferencing is not an attractive option to ODPs & nurses on CPD modules

• eLearning is not an attractive option to ODPs & nurses on CPD modules

• Students prefer tutorials to teaching on a Saturday morning.

The point being…?

• The root cause of the problem was time…

…moving the problem to a Saturday morning didn’t change that.

Thank You

References

Prensky, M. (2001) 'Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants part 1' On the Horizon 9 (5) 1-6

Prensky, M. (2001b). Digital natives, digital immigrants part 2: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon 9 (6) 1-6

Prensky, M. (2009) ‘H. sapiens digital: From digital immigrants and digital natives to digital wisdom.’ Innovate 5(3) 1-9.

Smith, E. (2012) ‘The Digital Native Debate in Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Recent Literature’ Canadian Journal of Learning Technology 38 (3) 1-18