E-Learning Tools
This paper will discuss three tools used at the University of Phoenix that give their students transfer lifelong skills that can be used in the work place as well as everyday life. Learning Teams, rEsource, and Problem Based Learning are the tools that teach students problem-solving techniques and social skills. The rEsource contains valuable links to information resources that allows students to enhance their research skills.
The Value of rEsource
R-Esourcse is a valuable tool that allows students to access current course material such as simulations, announcements, access notes, review assignments, discuss questions, and take practice quizzes anytime anywhere during the day or week via the internet, it also gives students the ability to ask instructors questions and receive the answer back almost immediately. This valuable tool enable student to study at times that suits their schedule and also save money on hidden expenses like traveling costs, students don't need to travel anywhere to get online. The rEsource contains links to key resources, students can get great examples and download free and low cost tools such as internet browsers, pdf readers etc. The grate thing about the rEsourse tools is that it allows students to balance the demand of work and home because students can learn from work, home or on the road.
The Value of Learning Teams
Learning Teams allow small groups of students to work together as a team to solve a problem, complete a task, or accomplish a common goal, which in turn build confidence and good working relationships amongst students. One of the values of the Learning Team is that it promotes cooperation in order to achieve the students leaning goals. Learning Team students a...
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...nts the opportunity to encounter problems that resemble the nature of problems encountered in the real world. Learning Team help promotes cooperation in order to achieve the students leaning goals which intern give students social skills. The eRsource is a valuable tool that allows students to access current course material. If students use these there tools during their education at University of Phoenix they well learn transferable skill that can be taken throughout their careers and life.
References
Bernstien, P., Tipping, J., Bercovitz, K., & Skinner, H.A. (1995). Shifting students and faculty to a Problem Based Learning cirricukum: Attitudes changes and lessons learned.
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Johnson, D.W., Johnson, R.T., & Smith, K.A. (1998). Active learning: Cooperation in the
college classroom (2nd ed.). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Co.
Online Classroom (2005, January). Facilitating Team Learning Means More Than Just Assigning Team Projects. Online Classroom, 2005, January, 5. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from EBSCOHOST database.
A team or group is a collection of people who are associated and interdependent in their tasks, share obligation regarding results, and view themselves as a unit inserted in an institutional or organisational framework which works inside the established boundaries of that system.(H.Kristin,2013)Teams and groups have shown a similar relationship within the bounds of the procedures and research identifying with their effectiveness(K.Steve, 2006) (i.e. group cohesiveness, cooperation) while as yet keeping up their freedom as independent units, as gatherings and their individuals are autonomous of each other's part, aptitude, information or purpose versus groups and their individuals, who are reliant upon each other's part, ability, learning and
Upon completion of these assessments, the work place team is then formed, acquiring team members based upon the needs of the project, mission or goal of the team. The team then proceeds to learn about each other. In learning about one another, individual learning styles must be identified to gain an understanding of how to maximize team performance by capitalizing on team members' strengths via learning styl...
Jozwiak, j. (2004). Teaching Probelm-Solving Skills to Adults. MPAEA Journal of Adult Education, 33(1), 19-34.
Strom, P. S., & Strom, R. D. (2011). Teamwork skills assessment for cooperative learning. Educational Research and Evaluation, 17(4), 233-251.
University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team Toolkit. Available on the University of Phoenix student/faculty website: http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (March 14, 2015).
Hellriegel, Slocum, & Woodman (1986) state that team building is used to improve the effectiveness of work groups by focusing on any of the following four purposes: setting goals and priorities, deciding on means an methods, examining the way in which the group works, and exploring the quality of working relationships. A cycle then develops; it begins with the awareness or perception of a problem and is followed sequentially by data collection, data sharing diagnosis, action planning, action implementation, and behavioral evaluation. This style is repeated as new problems are identified.
Working in teams provides an opportunity for individuals to come together and establish a rapport towards others within a group. Teamwork is classified as people with different strengths and skills who work together to achieve a common goal. When a team works well, specific objectives are fulfilled and satisfied. Teamwork plays a crucial role in implementing and fulfilling a common goal in a team project. Each member plays a role and takes on different responsibilities combined together. In different stages of teamwork, conflicts and arguments may occur for as members have different standpoints which need to be harmonized within the team. The key to having an effective teamwork is to explore each member's unique abilities to motivate them.
My involvement in the Learning Team environment at the University has been a great learning experience. When we were assigned teams at the end of the first week, I did not really know what to expect. I have worked on teams numerous times in my career, both in the professional and private sectors. The teams I have worked on have always been to either produce a product or improve a process. Learning has always been a part of these teams, but I have never been on a team whose specific purpose was centered on learning.
Proponents claim that learners’ academic achievement can be significantly improved with the effectiveness of use of collaborative learning. The active exchange of ideas within small groups increases interest among learners and also promotes critical thinking and deeper levels of understanding of concepts (Benware & Deci, 1984). According to Johnson & Johnson (1986), there is convincing evidence that collaborative teams achieve high level of thoughts and retain information longer than learners who work as individuals. The shared learning gives learners an opportunity to engage in discussion, take responsibility for their own learning, and thus become critical thinkers (Totten, Sills, & Russ, 1991).
Problem-solving help the students to create their own representation or illustration (De Corte, Vrerschaffel, De Win 1985; Hegarty, Mayer, Monk, 1995; Pape, 2003) based on how they interpret or understand the given problem (Pape, 2003; Van der Schoot, Bakker Arkema, Horsley, Van Lieshout, 2009). Problem-solving also tests their critical thinking skills on how they look for another strategy or ways to solve the problem easier. Problem-solving helps the problem solver to develop characteristics of a good problem solver which includes open-mindedness, optimistic, persistent, not afraid to commit mistakes and systematic person since he is following a certain step in solving the
...eadth or depth of coverage. Some other criticisms of cooperative learning are the presence of hitch hikers, students who may be too shy, passive, or unmotivated to get involved with the group, or dominant personalities that inhibit group work as when their high standards or intense involvement excludes their teammates. Some students may not participate if they believe it will negatively impact the group grade. In order to remedy this some methods to encourage participation would be to assign roles. This gives the student a responsibility and also it would be the responsibility of other group members to involve him. Changing group dynamics be changed by increasing interdependence, social skills procedure, processing and individual accountability may also improve the situation. If all else fails it may be best to break up the group and let some people work alone.
there are necessary technologies that must be on ground in order to sustain e-learning, these
A team is a group of people with a full set of complementary skills required to complete a project. Team members work toward a common goal. A team becomes more than just a collection of people when a strong sense of mutual commitment creates synergy, thus generating performance greater than the sum of the performance of its individual members. Team members not only need clear goals, they needs roles to help facilitate
Therefore, it endeavours to address the constant changes in the world by adapting the way learning is structured to ensure students are suitably equipped for the future (Bolstad et al., 2012). To adapt today’s education to coincide with the changing world, 21st century teaching and learning has incorporated a number of key features to pave the way for success. Promoting active learning that is primarily outcome based, engaging students in research driven and project-based learning and encouraging students to identify real-world problems are all incorporated to ensure students are well equipped for the future (Shaw, 2008). Teachers’ utilise these features in a number of ways to engage and motivate 21st century learners when delivering curriculum content. For instance, Bell (2010) noted when students partake in project-based learning as an approach to instruction that teaches curriculum concepts through a project; it provides them with a greater understanding of the current topic being researched. Teachers’ have witnessed an increase in motivation to learn as the approach is student driven, teacher-facilitated (Bell, 2010). Bell (2010) highlights, that as students solve real-world problems through project-based learning it assists in teaching a number of skills such as