Last week, when the snow shut down D.C.’s American University, Professor Rhonda Zaharna moved her International Public Relations class online to Facebook instead.
It all started after Zaharna attended a one-day teaching symposium in January where she soaked in several technology sessions. “The line that really stuck with me was: “If you want to fish, go where the fish are.” The fish, is seems, were all on Facebook, and I wanted to cast my net.” So she took the plunge, started a Facebook group for her class, and has been thrilled with how her students have been interacting on Facebook.
The afternoon school was cancelled, Zaharna emailed her students, telling them about the change of venue, and despite a few digital hiccups (Zaharna is new to Facebook), the majority of her students showed up for class at the 5:30pm start time. They were online, interacting, and working on completing the class project.Says Zaharna, “One even participated while she was riding the Metro. Not everyone made it to my virtual class, but those who didn’t were catching up, posting their ideas the day after the storm.”
What’s so fascinating about this story is the grassroots way a traditional university adjusted to the circumstances and used the internet as a resource in the learning process. According to a study from the Department of Education, it looks like we’re going to start seeing more of this blended learning technique. (Kudos to World-Shaker for sharing the article)
The Department of Education’s analysis pointed to blended learning-a combination of online and in-class instruction-as the most effective teaching method, which has since been echoed by the findings of Marc Loudon, a professor of medicinal chemistry at Purdue University, who once doubted the effectiveness of online coursework. Loudon examined the performance of 226 organic chemistry students in fall 2009. Those that engaged in online homework on top of their class lectures and textbook homework had a full-grade higher average than their peers who studied without the aid of the online tool.
Do you think you could get behind a curriculum with in-class and online education?
Sarah, thanks for this great article. That is awesome that a professor would take matters in her own hands and put a class online. I would probably be the girl on the subway. It is awesome to think about all of the things that technology has enabled us to do. We can hold class while no one is physically together. That is just awesome. Let’s see how this will change going to class.