Post 43: The Three Phases of an Online Class--Beginning, Middle, and the End

Post 43: The Three Phases of an Online Class--Beginning, Middle and the End of the Class

Bloom Taxonomy and Phases of the Class

Knowledge/Exploration

Students exhibit memory of previously learned material. Definition/matching questions are common at this primary stage.

Understanding/Discovery
Students demonstrate understanding of the core concepts of the class. Compare/Contrast questions, interpret, summarize questions are common at this stage.

Application/Integration
Students solve problems in new situations by applying the newly acquired knowledge, facts. Questions using words like, 'Apply', Build, Construct, become common questions at this stage in both forum questions and learning objective wording.

Analysis
Students examine and break down information into parts by identifying motives.

Synthesis
Compile information together in a new way.

Evaluation
Present and defend opinions by making judgements about information and validity of ideas as students reflect upon and evaluate the effectiveness of the overall class.


 Beginning of the class--Exploration of Class Core Concepts
 
In the beginning of the class, the students introduce each other. The instructor gets to know the students. Both faculty and students bond with each other through forums, assignments, papers, email and feedback. Faculty get a feel for which students are the higher achieving students, which students are average students, and which students need extra help.  The beginning of the class coincides with the Bloom's Taxonomy of Exploration, Lower level Knowledge questions and Definition where students are tackling the basics of the topic and getting an overview of the class. In the beginning of the class, I tend to be more the Sage on the Stage (teacher centered) as I introduce the topic of the class through forum lectures, weekly lectures, announcements, weekly wrap ups, quizzes, and video and audio lectures and video and audio wrap ups.  Also, as a teacher, I get to know what my students are like, what feedback they want, and like I said before, I get to know who are the high achievers and who needs extra help.

Middle of the Class-- Understanding/Discovery/Application of Class Core Concepts

In the middle of the class, the students know each other and are comfortable with each other having bonded in the forums for half the class. The teacher has by this time graded half the assignments in the class so she is aware of what mistakes students are making and what difficulties that particular class is having with the topic. By the middle of the class, my students feel comfortable enough to send me emails to ask me any questions they have about a topic. Students start to take control of their topic and now my class becomes more of a learner centered classroom. My role becomes more as a Guide by the Side where I motivate students to further learning. In the middle of the class, you are in the Understanding, Discovery, and Application learning phases of Bloom's Taxonomy. At this stage, students learn to apply the core concepts of the class to their lives and they apply these core concepts in their projects and papers, thus beginning the ultimate synthesis of the class material.

End of class--Synthesis/Evaluation/Reflection of Class Core Concepts

By the end of the class, students have integrated the material and now reflect and evaluate what they have learned. Students tell me what take away lessons they have gained from the class. They also evaluate the overall effectiveness of the class and I ask students how the class or how my teaching can be improved for future students.