PennEduTech

I came across a helpful web site that I wanted to share.

http://www.atimod.com/e-tivities/intro.shtml

The site provides a synopsis of a book which is now somewhat out of date (published 2002), but still provides some useful tips in concise form.

The book is called E-tivities by Dr Gilly Salmon.  According to the author, “E-tivities is the word I give to frameworks for online active and interactive learning.”  Most examples cited concern how to make effective use of text-based discussion boards such as those found in Blackboard and other learning management systems).  It’s not hard to extend the principles to other types of asynchronous online activities.

On the web site,  the 5 Stage Model page is helpful for conceptualizing how a well structured E-tivity supports learning.  It shows the basic actions at each step for both learners and moderators.

http://www.atimod.com/e-tivities/5stage.shtml

I also liked the Building e-tivities- key principles extract from chapter 4.

http://www.atimod.com/e-tivities/extracts.shtml

I look at this list not so much as a cookbook recipe for how to structure an activity, but rather as a checklist.  Use it to apply a reality-check to the activities you’re planning.