Drs. Carolyn Samuel, Angela Guadagno, and Mariela Tovar from the McGill University shared tips and templates for real-time remote learning at the 2020 Lilly Conference. The three work as educational developers at Teaching and Learning Services at McGill and developed strategies instructors could use to enhance engagement in Zoom sessions, including webinars. Their recording was very interactive and dynamic, as they included examples of different strategies they use and speakers switched back and forth. The templates are located on their webpage. Four example templates were developed and include descriptions for pre-session work as well as asterisks for parallel activities on a discussion forum and teaching assistant integration. The first template discussed is for an interactive lecture that could be used for large classes. The table is almost like a lesson plan. The session begins with an introduction and check-in. The second template is used for an interactive lecture with small group discussions in break out rooms and a follow-up debrief. Common in both templates were short mini lectures and check ins for participants via the chat or reactions. The third template encourages a high level of interaction with pre work that could be a video or text and posting on a forum. During the session, small groups discuss and share thoughts from the forums. The final template was well suited for case studies: students are asked to submit a pre-session assignment and during the session share feedback to brainstorm alternative solutions. A follow up debrief is used. Then, students have the opportunity to resubmit their assignment. I like this approach and will keep it in mind!
Then, the presenters described a template they developed for a webinar with instructors. This is a very meta level and has the goal of allowing instructors to experience the strategies. They presented a four-part framework for planning online activities: motivating and orientating, informing, engage with content and feedback, and closing and reflection. The prompts they used were really great: on which strategy type do you spend the most time during class time? Another one was: (complete this prompt) how do you learn best?
The presenters used a picture prompt activity to have participants make connections between what they discussed in their breakout rooms and an abstract lithograph by Miró. The participants, in this case instructors, shared thoughts via the chat or by speaking out. This could be a great activity for engagement and creativity for virtual meeting with our IPERT partners or HITS Case Fellows. The presenters mentioned they used the four-part framework with instructor webinars. This is important to think about for the design of future sessions we offer. I also appreciate how the speakers encouraged people to use the tools and experiment. The templates they created offer a structure that is helpful for planning.
The interactions designed into the templates align with the Community of inquiry framework with cognitive, teaching, and social presence. For example, you begin a session with an introduction check-in that is an example of social presence. A mini-lecture is an example of Teaching presence. Pausing for a “think break” before explaining a solution is an example of cognitive presence. After a day of our first Zoom class and watching our new fantastic instructor use some strategies, this session was helpful in emphasizing the structure of lesson plan templates and significance of social, cognitive, and teaching presence of the community of inquiry framework for online learning.
