Teaching With WordPress 2015 (TWP15) is a four week, open course designed in WordPress and using connectivist principles and approaches, including:
- networking
- use of open resources
- sensemaking
- sharing what's learned
Course Goals
- Evaluate the affordances of incorporating open pedagogy into one’s own approach to teaching.
- Understand how WordPress can be used as an open tool for teaching.
- Connect with a learning network for on-going support.
Design Plan
This plan loosely follows backward design principles (starting with goals/vision, then planning for self-assessment and activities to ensure alignment). It is a synthesis of most of what has been discussed/documented in the following planning sites:
Design Questions
- these are now on discussions page - please add! These can be our weekly touch points.
Week 1
| Weekly Theme(s) |
Goals |
Assessment |
Activities |
Key Resources |
Additional Resources
|
| Open Pedagogy & Design |
Make sense of the course (wayfinding, sense making, network building) |
Set up blog, social network accounts and add to course blog. |
self-orientation & see below |
Readings Week 1 |
|
| * open pedgagogy |
Discuss meaning of open pedagogy and openness |
1. Post and comment on weekly discussion /2. Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 1 |
1. BC Campus: online collaborative session: open pedagogy/ 2. Respond to discussion question: What can I do in the open that I couldn't do before? |
David Wiley's post on evolving open pedagogy/ Readings Week 1 |
need details re: login, etc.
|
| * examples in practice |
Consider effective teaching practices in open |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 1 |
Watch screencast - Examples of open courses using WordPress |
Will's screencast and others(invited) |
Readings Week 1
|
| * privacy & trust |
Grapple with implications of open (privacy/trust) |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 1 |
Watch Video: perspectives from open practitioners/ Post to Discussion |
Website/curated videos: http://speakingopenly.co.uk/ |
Readings Week 1
|
| * design considerations |
Consider backward design and other principles for designing open courses |
Self reflection on design considerations for own course |
Video: Design Principles for Open/Begin to add elements to WordPress course blog/Post for feedback |
Cindy's video/slides |
Reading: hybrid course design
|
| * licensing for re-use |
Choose a license for own course site. |
Decision rationale - post and/or discussion comment. |
1. Choose and display a licence on your course site/ 2. Explain the reasons for your decision in a blog post and share the link. |
Creative Commons site/ Readings Week 1 |
|
Week 2
| Weekly Theme(s) |
Goals |
Assessment |
Activities |
Key Resources |
Additional Resources
|
| Affordances of WordPress |
Identify 2 or 3 learning goals for your course and how they may be supported in WordPress |
Post on own site and comment on 1 or 2 others. |
Participate in a synchronous discussion about using WordPress for teaching and learning. |
Readings Week 2 |
Collaborate set up and directions for participants.
|
| * flexibility |
Explore WordPress functionality with course goals in mind |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 2 |
Reflect on: what functionality do your learners need in order to meet goals? |
WordPress documentation - links in readings/delicious |
Screencast: Instructors using WP for teaching/Readings Week 2
|
| * benefits & risks |
Reflect on the benefits and risks of using WordPress in relation to your own course and the learning you want to support. |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 2 |
Post and comment on weekly discussion on this topic. |
Screencast: Instructors using WP for teaching |
Readings Week 2
|
| * applying open pedagogy |
Consider how you will apply open pedagogical practices in your own course |
Self Assessment for Understanding: Week 2 |
Watch Screencast: What has worked well for instructors using WP./Post to weekly discussion on this topic. |
Screencast: Instructors using WP for teaching |
Readings Week 2
|
| * architecture for participation |
Sketch out a beginning architecture for your course that supports participation |
Architecture applied to course |
Apply architecture (menus, categories, discussion/ social media integrations, etc to course in a way that supports learning goals |
Screencast: Architecture considerations?? |
Readings Week 2
|
| * learning goals and activities |
Explore the link between course goals, learning activities and affordances of WordPress |
Activity submitted to assignment bank |
Create and add an activity to the assignment bank/Tag it |
Assignment description/detail |
Readings Week 2
|
Weeks 3&4
| Weekly Theme(s) |
Goals |
Assessment |
Activities |
Key Resources |
Additional Resources
|
| Pulling it all together - cohesive course design |
Document your design process, share and get feedback on your work in progress |
Peer feedback on work in progress. |
Create a short screencast (or blog post with images) showing your course and documenting your design decisions so far. Submit your post to the W.I.P - specifying what you want feedback on. |
Readings Weeks 3&4 |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
| * advanced WP functionality |
*goal |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Weeks 3&4 |
*activity |
*key resources |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
| * learning pathways |
Create a strategy to support learners in "wayfinding". |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Weeks 3&4 |
Watch (select video blogs from Speakingly Openly: curated video blogs specific to the students experience)/ Develop at least one strategy/ or curated resource for your course that may help with "wayfinding" or orientation to the open learning environment. |
Speakingly Openly: curated video blogs specific to the students experience |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
| * social platforms |
*goal |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Weeks 3&4 |
*activity |
*key resources |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
| * content strategies |
*goal |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Weeks 3&4 |
*activity |
*key resources |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
| * support networks |
Contribute to the support network as part of this course. |
Reflection/Self Assessment for Understanding: Weeks 3&4 |
1. Via Twitter (using course hashtag #TWP15) share a tip, strategy, shortcut or link to a technical implementation that you have found particularly helpful./Tweet a support question if you have one or attend a weekly WordPress clinic - if you have access to one./3. Respond to a fellow participant's support request via Twitter - be sure to use the course hashtag. |
*key resources |
Readings Weeks 3&4
|
