Overview

This workshop will facilitate discussion, exchange of information, and sharing of resource to improve teaching in education settings at scale – such as large online courses, blended courses, large lecture courses, MOOCs, and adaptive learning systems. During the workshop we will explore pedagogic topics that are especially relevant to effectively teaching large numbers of students. Examples include how to deliver content, integrating technology, effective learning activities, how to run effective scalable discussions, assessment strategies, and course management.

The workshop will include a series of web-based synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including presentations from expert practitioners of scaled learning, panel discussions, on-line chat sessions, and time for guided individual and small group work. A primary focus of the workshop will be the development of course components and teaching materials specifically designed for use in these teaching conditions. These materials will be published on the website for use by other faculty.

Workshop Goals

This workshop will help participants enhance their teaching by:

Synthesize the principles of effective pedagogy in a large class environments.
Providing examples of successful scaled courses, activities and projects, and practical advice about "what works."
Providing participants with the opportunity to refine their own scaled courses or activities.
Providing an opportunity to work with colleagues in developing web-based collections of examples and best practices for scaled teaching.
Supporting a community of scholars interested in continued work on scaled learning in the geoscience curriculum.

Dates

This workshop will take place April 9-11 and April 14-15, 2014. This is an online workshop and there is no face-to-face component. The workshop will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous components over the two-week period. We anticipate that in total, the workshop will require 3-4 hours of your time each of the 5 scheduled days and that you will want to set aside some time on the weekend to work on your activity. Your focused attention will be appreciated by all. .

Expectations

Important outcomes of this workshop are to support participants in creating successful scaled geoscience courses and course components, and to create a series of examples and best practices that will be published on the web site. In order to accomplish this, participants are expected to do the following:

In advance of the workshop, all participants will submit a short description of a scaled course or an activity or course component. Select one of the following options.

Describe your scaled course. This course should be one that you feel is a strong example of effective scaled teaching, or a course that could scale. The submission form will ask you to describe the (current or proposed) course content, goals and format, as well as what specific elements are effective, why it works, and how you know that it is effective. Complete the form by March 9, 2014; you will have an opportunity to revise your course design during the workshop.
Describe a specific part of your course, such as an activity, a learning tool, a module, a project, an assessment, or a discussion. This activity should be one that you feel is a strong example of effective scaled teaching. The submission form will ask you to describe the context of the activity, how you teach it, what specific elements are effective, why it works, and how you know that it is effective. Complete the form by March 9, 2014; you will have an opportunity to revise your activity design during the workshop.
If you have not yet taught a scaled course, please use either of the links above to describe either a course or an activity that could be successfully adapted to a scaled environment. The online form will ask you to describe how this can be transferred to such a setting, what specific adaptations are needed, and how you will evaluate the effectiveness of the course or activity. Complete the form as much as you can by March 9, 2014, and you will have an opportunity to improve your activity design during the workshop.

During the workshop, improve or enhance the teaching materials that you submitted, based on knowledge, insight and advice you receive during the workshop or participate in a group writing project about effective scaled teaching methods and strategies for solving challenges of teaching online.
Participate in as many synchronous sessions as possible, post in each of the discussion threads, and review video files of sessions you were not able to attend.

Online workshops have many advantages, especially in your ability to access all of your instructional resources from your home office. However, the downside is that there are also many local distractions. So please be sure to block out times in your calendar for all scheduled workshop activities, just as if you were attending face-to-face meetings at those times. We anticipate that in total, the workshop will require 3-4 hours of your time each of the 5 scheduled days and that you will want to set aside some time on the weekend to work on your activity. Your focused attention will be appreciated by all.

Costs

The cost of the workshop is $200 ($150 for NAGT members). Learn more about becoming a member of NAGT and how your registration fees are used.

Departments or regional groups of four or more may register as a group for $500. The group must attend all synchronous sessions together (one phone line) and have a designated leader who will manage your groups participation, small group interactions, and serve as a point person for the site. To offer this reduced fee, the designated leader must agree to assume significant management and group leadership responsibilities both before and during the workshop. Please note that each group member must fill out the application individually. If your group is accepted, only the group leader will fill out the registration form and provide payment.

Our National Science Foundation grant provides funding for the remainder of the operational costs of the workshop. To be supported by these funds, a participant must be either a US citizen, a permanent resident, or in the employ of a US institution. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.

Application and Selection Criteria

Applications must be submitted by February 15, 2014. The workshop size is not limited – we will scale the event to match the number of participants. If you hold a teaching position in geosciences or a related field at a college or university you will automatically be accepted to the workshop. All other applicants will be selected based on the quality of their applications and alignment with workshop goals. All applicants will be notified of their acceptance by February 28, 2013.

Workshop speakers will be drawn from the participant pool based on their activity or course submissions and their applications.

Several co-leaders will be selected from workshop registrations to serve in a leadership capacity for the workshop based on their expertise with teaching at scale and group facilitation. These co-leaders will be responsible for leading small group work and completing synthesis documents but will pay no registration. You are asked if you would like to be considered for this responsibility on the workshop application. Co-leaders will be selected following the application deadline and notified in early March.

Facilities

This is a virtual workshop, and you can participate from wherever you have access to the internet. We will be using a combination of Adobe Connect and phone conferencing. You will want access to a computer that has reliable, high-speed internet, a video camera and microphone, as well as a telephone (preferably a land line). We will provide opportunities for you to test your connections and software prior to the first session.

Groups of four or more who are registered as a group, with a group leader are required to use a single phone line for all synchronous sessions. These groups will need a meeting room equipped with an internet connection, computer with video projection, and a speaker phone. They may be involved in small group activities that involve only participants from their location. These groups will require local meeting space equipped with internet.