Interview (OTL301 Post 4)

Post 4 “Interview”
Q1) What entry level course did you teach?
Answer: Human Geography

Q 2) How do you promote community and connection in a continuous entry course?
Answer: I use several strategies to keep a continuous connection with my students. We start with brief 30-minute video introductions posted to blackboard so that we can get peer connections and I can get to know my students as well. Second step is to launch a survey to get their views on the following topics:
• Expectations from the course?
• Whether they are interested in class activities to be synchronous or asynchronous?
• Do they have technology related issues?
• How can I as an instructor facilitate them through a course? Etc.

Q 3) What are your strategies for facilitating the process of critical inquiry, especially those leading to integration and resolution?
Answer: I provide helpful weblinks to my students to facilitate them through this process:
 Institutional sources available from the teaching and learning center
 Library sources
 Free access to turn-it-in for plagiarism checking
In addition to this I allow them to send drafts to me for pre-checking before they make final submissions. I also post sample assignments from previous courses like term papers and research projects. I also post rubrics with the assignment details to guide them through the expectations and how they will be judged/assessed.

Q 4) Digital tools to support the process of critical inquiry in a continuous entry course;
Answer: I have used some new innovative tools to support the process of critical inquiry in my course. These include:
 WeVu: for video presentations
 Padlet: for my discussion forums/blogs
 CanVa for poster making etc.
I, Dr Raja, skimmed through the internet and got the following information about the above mentioned softwares.

• Wevu: The only way to share video privately in classes, teams, workgroups,with time-specific comments for feedback and dialogue. Learners use their phones to record their skills. They upload to share with peers and teachers for pinpoint. It provides time-specific feedback and assessment.
• Padlet: Padlet is an online virtual “bulletin” board, where students and teachers can collaborate, reflect, share links and pictures, in a secure location. Padlet allows users to create a hidden wall with a custom URL. Padlet creators can also moderate posts, remove posts, and manage their board 24/7.
• CanVa: Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content. It is available on web and mobile.

Q 5) Questions that you have struggled with?
Answer:There have been some difficult inquiries like:
A group member for a particular assignment is not responding.
Why did my class fellow get a better grade for their discussion board comment?
Can you provide extensions for the submissions?

Sample Video Lecture

Hello,

One of the activity I post in my regular Thompson Rivers University classes -not yet posted in the open learning class though as it is not designed by me- includes my online lectures on important topics. Here is my sample lecture on Time Value of Money which I have recorded for the Introduction to Financial Management (FNCE 2120) class.

All Posts from “Engage” Course (OTL201 Post 6)

Here are all the posts from the “Engage” course including the learning portfolio

Updated Learning Portfolio:
Learning Activities Portfolio by Dr. Zubair Ali Raja (please click)
Integration:

Integration (OTL201 Post 5)

Introductory Video:

Video Introducing Me (OTL201 Post 4)

Second Introduction

Better Introduction (OTL2 Post 2)

Basic Introduction:

Here I am again!!! (OTL201 Post 1)