Assignment Directions | Group Discussion Prompts
Each assignment in Online Learning involves independent work and group discussions to share, discuss, and provide feedback on the work. This page is divided into two sections: Assignment Directions and Discussion Prompts.
Assignment Directions
Criteria for Excellence (Rubric)
– Provides a mix of concepts, figures, events, and projects that gives the viewer a representative overview of Open Learning
– Log indicates methodical research and critical evaluation to identify the most relevant concepts and carefully select (curate) high quality online resources that provide more information on the concepts
– Entries include substantive annotations that explain why you included the item, what it is, and its relevance to the topic (minimum of 10 “stories” on the timeline)
– Entries are accurate, well written, and in your own words (not just text copied and pasted from websites). All sources are referenced in APA format within the text in the story (use both “basic info” and “extra info” tab).
– Takes advantage of the tool’s capacity to include links, videos, images, etc. (not just text)
Materials to Download
Log: open_learning_timeline_research_log
Assignment Guidelines and Directions
The timeline counts as 20% of your final grade (two full letters), so it’s important for you to take a methodical approach to its development. The Criteria for Excellence box to the right provides information on how your timeline/log will be assessed.
There are two parts to the timeline assignment, the timeline research log and the timeline proper. You will begin the assignment in Week 1 and share your timeline with the rest of the class during the Week 2 discussion. You will then have an opportunity to revise your timeline before you submit it for a final grade before midnight Sunday of Week 2.
Week 1: Timeline Background Research
Week 1: Part 1
Curating resources is an essential skill in open learning, meaning that you first start by reviewing many possible sources, then evaluate the quality and relevance of the sources, and finally select the best sources for inclusion in whatever you are creating (whether it’s a term paper or a timeline!).
Therefore, your completed timeline should be a subset (best of) the possible sources that you uncovered in your background research and documented in your research log. For this reason, your timeline log should include at least 15 entries (15 potential sources), and your timeline’s stories should draw upon and refer to at least 10 of the best sources you logged. In other words, you will curate (select) a subset of the best sources from the larger list of sources you found and documented in your log. See below for more on the timeline log.
Consider the following questions as you scour the web to find sources that will help you tell the story of the history of open learning:
How far back does the concept of “openness” go? What have been the major developments? Who was involved? In what sectors? Who are the key organizations/projects/people? When did they come onto the scene, and what is distinctive about their contributions? What are the similarities and differences between the way that different sectors approach the concept of openness? What are the major ideas? What appear to be future directions in the field? What are the best resources that you can find on the topic?
Search the web for links that are related to the concept of Open Learning. Not sure where to start in searching for timeline content? The term “open” is often paired with other terms related to education and access. Key words include:
- Open Learning
- Open Pedagogy
- Open Knowledge
- Open University
- MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses (there are two types, cMOOCS and xMOOCs)
- Open Badges
- Open Education
- Open Education Resources
- Open Textbooks
- Open Source
- Open Content
- Open Access
You can also check open online journals for articles that will help you take stock of the history and current landscape of open learning. Here are a few to explore:
- Google Scholar, Open Education Search – https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_sdt=1,22&q=Open+education&hl=en
- Google Scholar, Open Learning Search – https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Open+learning&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=1%2C22
- Idealis – https://theidealis.org/?s=open
- The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning – http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl
- The Review of Open, Distance, and e-Learning – http://www.tandfonline.com/action/doSearch?AllField=open+learning&SeriesKey=copl20
Use the timeline research log to document the items you find during your search. After you have documented at least 15 sources, put on your curator hat and select the 10 sources that will best convey your understanding of the history of open learning. Note that each entry you select for inclusion in the timeline should include a 1-2 paragraph description that provides information about why it is relevant and a website link with more information. Please also include full APA references for your timeline sources. Also, find at least one image or video that pertains to the entry, so that you can include it in your timeline.
Please also note that points will be deducted for items that are not assessed with a critical eye, so evaluate your sources carefully. For example, Blackboard offers a version of its product that supports MOOCs, but Blackboard is a fee-based product that has a conflicted history with open source software. Any mention of Blackboard would need to involve a balanced discussion of ways that the corporation has impeded and furthered the open learning movement.
Week 1: Part 2
The multimedia tool that you will use to create your timeline is called Tiki-Toki. Take time to orient yourself to the app and how it works. View the tutorials and experiment with it. Your future self will thank you, because next week you won’t have to learn how the software works and create your timeline at the same time!
Tiki-Toki – Getting Started.pdf
Getting Started with Tiki-Toki Timelines
Week 2
Criteria for Excellence (Rubric)
– Provides a mix of concepts, figures, events, and projects that gives the viewer a representative overview of Open Learning
– Log indicates methodical research and critical evaluation to identify the most relevant concepts and carefully select (curate) high quality online resources that provide more information on the concepts
– Entries in the timeline include substantive annotations that explain why you included the item, what it is, and its relevance to the topic (minimum of 10 “stories” on the timeline)
– Entries are accurate, well written, and in your own words (not just text copied and pasted from websites). All sources are referenced in APA format within the text in the story (use both “basic info” and “extra info” tab).
– Takes advantage of the tool’s capacity to include links, videos, images, etc. (not just text)
Create a timeline and title it “[Your firstname’s] Open Learning Timeline.” Be sure to select settings that make it viewable to the public so that others in the class will be able to access it.
Your timeline can include links to pretty much anything that’s freely available online. You are encouraged to incorporate substantive content from a range of media (e.g., organizational websites, blogs, publications and research, presentations such as those on SlideShare, videos, images, infograms, Pinterest sites). Feel free to play and experiment with the possibilities. Extra consideration will be given to timelines that make sophisticated use of the tool, in addition to high quality substance.
Each entry on your timeline should include
- an annotated description that describes what it is, explains why you selected it, and discusses how the item contributes to your understanding of open learning.
- a full reference to the source(s) that informed the entry in APA format (Note that the tool does not support italics and so you will not be graded down on that formatting). Include live links to sources that are publicly available
- some form of multimedia, for example a thumbnail image or embedded video. Extra consideration will be given to timelines that make full use of the tool’s features (for example, assigning categories to entries, such as concepts, figures, events, and projects)
Discussion Guidelines
Before Thursday 11:59 p.m. EST
Go to the “Week 2: Timelines” discussion. Find your group’s thread and post a starter message that includes a live link to your Open Learning timeline. Include a reflection on what you learned from the experience and attach your timeline log to the message. How did the process of researching and developing your timeline change or expand your understanding of Open Learning? How did you decide which entries/resources to include? What questions did it raise for you about the concept?
Between Thursday and Sunday, 11:59 p.m. EST
Review the timelines and reflections posted by your groupmates. Write at least one follow-through message to create a conversation with your colleagues. Consider these questions in your follow-through discussion:
How do your timelines compare with the module summaries? What are the recurring themes and big ideas? Do some of the summaries and timelines include conflicting information?
Are these conflicts factual? If so, look around the web for additional information to see if you can set things straight.
Are the conflicts a matter of interpretation? If so, this is an opportunity to engage in constructive debate!
What new ideas and insights about Open Learning do you gain from viewing the summaries and the timelines of your peers? How has this week’s work and discussion improved your understanding of the scope, purpose, and fundamental concepts associated with Open Learning? What questions remain?
Before midnight Sunday, please use the link below to submit your timeline log and URL for grading. For your convenience, a link to the assignment dropbox is also available in the Assignments and Rubrics area of the course in the timeline folder.