Infusing Metacognition In Teaching & Learning

From the inbox earlier today…

This is a series of five blog posts on Self-Directed Learning (SDL), which has become somewhat of a vogue term in the present educational context. For example, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills identified SDL as one of the life and career skills necessary to prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce. In this series, Dennis Sale from Singapore Polytechnic, will unpack SDL in terms of what it actually means and entails as a human capability (e.g., the key underpinning competencies) and how teaching/training professionals can best design and facilitate learning experiences (e.g., strategies) to enhance students’ self-directed learning. In this third post, the methodology for the systematic infusion and facilitation of metacognitive strategies is outlined and illustrated. Some key takeaways are: Three fundamental principles that are necessary for successful metacognitive instruction What students need to become more self-directed in their learning A practical model of thinking This article is one of a series published in SoftChalk Talk, a blog covering timely issues related to all aspects of instructional design and published by SoftChalk LLC. Have a comment on this topic? Suggestions for future topics or interest in being a guest writer? Send me an email at natalie@softchalk.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Natalie Saltzberg www.softchalk.com www.softchalkcloud.com Like us on Facebook  •  Follow us on Twitter  •  Check out the SoftChalk Talk Blog

SoftChalk LLC 22 S. Auburn Ave. Richmond VA 23221  877-638-2425

A Pedagogic Framework for Developing Self-Directed Learning

Also from yesterday’s inbox…

This is a series of five blog posts on Self-Directed Learning (SDL), which has become somewhat of a vogue term in the present educational context. For example, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills identified SDL as one of the life and career skills necessary to prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce. In this series, Dennis Sale from Singapore Polytechnic, will unpack SDL in terms of what it actually means and entails as a human capability (e.g., the key underpinning competencies) and how teaching/training professionals can best design and facilitate learning experiences (e.g., strategies) to enhance students’ self-directed learning. In this second post Dennis outlines, explains and illustrates an Evidence-based Pedagogic Framework for developing SDL. This is the underpinning theoretical rationale for the subsequent posts detailing the strategies to be used and how they work. Some key takeaways are: Planning for learning Managing learning performance and process Reviewing and evaluating learning This article is one of a series published in SoftChalk Talk, a blog covering timely issues related to all aspects of instructional design and published by SoftChalk LLC. Have a comment on this topic? Suggestions for future topics or interest in being a guest writer? Send me an email at natalie@softchalk.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Natalie Saltzberg www.softchalk.com www.softchalkcloud.com Like us on Facebook  •  Follow us on Twitter  •  Check out the SoftChalk Talk Blog

SoftChalk LLC 22 S. Auburn Ave. Richmond VA 23221  877-638-2425

Developing An Orientation For First-Time Online Students

From yesterday’s inbox…

Why do students fail or drop out of online courses? Many times, they’re unprepared or have unrealistic expectations for what online learning really is. In this blog post Dena Coots will share her experience developing and implementing an online orientation for first-time online students and how it has impacted them and faculty at Alvin Community College in Texas. Some key takeaways are: Tips for redesigning an orientation that contains assessments, maintains outcomes and can be completed in less than an hour The structure and organization of the orientation Student feedback on improved orientation This article is one of a series published in SoftChalk Talk, a blog covering timely issues related to all aspects of instructional design and published by SoftChalk LLC. Have a comment on this topic? Suggestions for future topics or interest in being a guest writer? Send me an email at natalie@softchalk.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Natalie Saltzberg www.softchalk.com www.softchalkcloud.com Like us on Facebook  •  Follow us on Twitter  •  Check out the SoftChalk Talk Blog

SoftChalk LLC 22 S. Auburn Ave. Richmond VA 23221  877-638-2425

Upgrade The LMS Course Experience – Create High Quality Online Lessons

See these up-coming webinars.

You have a learning management system (LMS)—but is the content in your LMS course awesome, or is it meh? If you’re a college or university educator, instructional designer, or school administrator who is looking to upgrade the LMS course experience, look no more! In this webinar, we’ll show a fast and easy way for faculty to create high quality online lessons that are interactive and will engage students. Did we mention it’s FAST and EASY? You’ll also learn how you can deliver your lessons directly inside of your school’s learning management system (LMS). Register for a FREE webinar today and see how you can create a professional-looking, interactive, online lesson in an hour with SoftChalk Cloud! Tuesday, October 2 3:00PM ET Tuesday, October 23 4:00PM ET Wednesday, November 7 3:00PM ET We look forward to seeing you there! The SoftChalk Team www.softchalk.com www.softchalkcloud.com Like us on Facebook  •  Follow us on Twitter  •  Check out the SoftChalk Talk Blog

SoftChalk LLC 22 S. Auburn Ave. Richmond VA 23221  877-638-2425

The 5 Minute University (5MU) Project

Finishing up a slow blogging day.

Finding spare time when you’re an educator can be difficult when you’re juggling the many responsibilities and commitments that come with the job. That being said, professional development is more valuable than ever with constantly changing regulations, student needs and education itself. How do you find the time to keep up with the literature, effectively educate your students and participate in (sometimes lengthy) instructor development workshops? Enter: the 5 Minute University Project (5MU)… IN this blog post, you will hear from a team of educators—all from different institutions—and how they developed the 5MU in order to  improve educational practices 5 minutes at a time. Some key takeaways are: How 5 minutes to talk about teaching and learning can benefit educators The structure of the 5MU modules An example of a module on how to get students to prepare for class This article is one of a series published in SoftChalk Talk, a blog covering timely issues related to all aspects of instructional design and published by SoftChalk LLC. Have a comment on this topic? Suggestions for future topics or interest in being a guest writer? Send me an email at natalie@softchalk.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Natalie Saltzberg www.softchalk.com www.softchalkcloud.com Like us on Facebook  •  Follow us on Twitter  •  Check out the SoftChalk Talk Blog

SoftChalk LLC 22 S. Auburn Ave. Richmond VA 23221  877-638-2425