Learning and Experiencing in a Hybrid Astronomy Course
Abstract
This first hybrid course at Muhlenberg College served students in the humanities and took advantage of the experience of a science instructor with experience teaching online and hybrid courses at other institutions for over a decade. This astronomy course was offered during summer session, 2014 in a 10 week format with a focus on flexibility to accommodate students' summer jobs and other commitments. The course was structured with one full day class at the beginning and near the end of the 10 week summer session. All other activities were online. Students paired for on line laboratories using astronomy software and the college’s videoconferencing system, Radvision. This session will include the rationale for decisions on course structure, student reactions, instructor experiences, and insights into how the course fit into the institutional goals and digital learning plans for Muhlenberg College as a whole. It will include how the course design will address instructor, student and peer interactions and collaborative learning. The presentation will include short videos of reflections from students who participated in the course. Surprises and solutions resulted in a project for computer science cohort. This hybrid course format actively supports one of Muhlenberg College's Fundamental Institutional Values: “We believe that liberal education integrates experiences both within and beyond the classroom, and provides students with the passion and tools for self-initiated and self-directed life-long learning.” In this course, students of all ages collaborated on simulation experiential laboratories using web conferencing tools. This is a perfect model for the type of life-long learning that will be an important part of their personal and professional life in their future.
Session
Session 4A: Blending STEM Courses
Location
Dalton 300
Start Date
5-20-2015 4:45 PM
End Date
5-20-2015 6:00 PM
Learning and Experiencing in a Hybrid Astronomy Course
Dalton 300
This first hybrid course at Muhlenberg College served students in the humanities and took advantage of the experience of a science instructor with experience teaching online and hybrid courses at other institutions for over a decade. This astronomy course was offered during summer session, 2014 in a 10 week format with a focus on flexibility to accommodate students' summer jobs and other commitments. The course was structured with one full day class at the beginning and near the end of the 10 week summer session. All other activities were online. Students paired for on line laboratories using astronomy software and the college’s videoconferencing system, Radvision. This session will include the rationale for decisions on course structure, student reactions, instructor experiences, and insights into how the course fit into the institutional goals and digital learning plans for Muhlenberg College as a whole. It will include how the course design will address instructor, student and peer interactions and collaborative learning. The presentation will include short videos of reflections from students who participated in the course. Surprises and solutions resulted in a project for computer science cohort. This hybrid course format actively supports one of Muhlenberg College's Fundamental Institutional Values: “We believe that liberal education integrates experiences both within and beyond the classroom, and provides students with the passion and tools for self-initiated and self-directed life-long learning.” In this course, students of all ages collaborated on simulation experiential laboratories using web conferencing tools. This is a perfect model for the type of life-long learning that will be an important part of their personal and professional life in their future.