Increasing Student Interaction using Web-Based Action Mazes
Facilitators: Wendy Caplan, Wade Kelly and Sue Ashby
Room: EDB 252
Capacity: 21
Quandary is an easy to use tool for creating interactive, action mazes that simulate real-life situations. Action mazes, or decision making trees, engage learners by providing them with opportunities to “walk through” reality-based scenarios, apply their theoretical understandings to practical situations, and learn from each of the decisions they make along the way. Choosing the correct path encourages students and builds their self-confidence while reinforcing their understanding of the subject matter. Using mazes also gives them the freedom to make incorrect decisions, providing them with risk-free opportunities to assess the consequences of these decisions. Instructors can “virtually” set students back on the right path by providing remedial information that increases their understanding of the concepts.
This hands-on workshop will consider the pedagogical implications of action mazes; provide an introduction to Quandary; and give participants an opportunity to create an action maze. Participants will go through a step-by-step process of planning and creating a dynamic action maze that incorporates a variety of media. The goal of this session is to have all participants completing the groundwork for a customized action maze that can continue to be developed in their own learning environment.
This workshop will be conducted by the staff of the Flexible Delivery Office in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. The Faculty has created and incorporated a “Safe Home Visit” action maze created in Quandary as part of the first year lab requirement.
Intended Audience: Faculty, support staff, and designers. No specific LMS knowledge is required, but participants should have solid computer skills.
About the Facilitators:
Wendy Caplan is the Coordinator of Flexible Delivery for the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. With an M.Ed in Adult and Higher Education she has experience teaching adults in both face to face and on-line environments. For the past 10 years she has managed on-line learning programs and supported both faculty and students involved in teaching and learning on-line. Wendy’s research has focused on synchronous communication in formal learning environments as well as on building and sustaining communities of practice.
Wade Kelly has his Bachelor of Education and has been working with adult learners since 2001 in both public and private institutions. In the Faculty of Nursing he works with faculty members to develop and manager electronic courses for both distance and blended delivery. While working in Northern BC he was involved with the Wireless Writing Project, a one-to-one student laptop program, where he assisted in the deployment and management of over 3000 units. Wade has a passion for the arts and is a technology consultant for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Both Wendy and Wade are members of the On-Line Program Support Group (OPSG), a community of practice for staff and faculty who support elearning at the University of Alberta. This year OPSG was successful in their application to become an Elluminate Center of Excellence for 2008.
Sue Ashby has been with the Flexible Delivery Office since October 2007, and has 8 years experience in computer support and online learning. She received her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph, and worked in the hospitality and service industry for 5 years before changing careers and finding her true passion – helping adults learn better through the use of technology.