Dr. Rosemary Cleveland & Kimberly Kenward, Grand Valley State University Discussion on how to set the stage for a hybrid online environment by designing a course that is well-organized and encourages students to become self-motivated independent learners. Learn how Blackboard allows for a variety of personal/private feedback using the Wimba Voice tool, journals entries, and detailed feedback in the Discussion Board.

1. Feedback is more than a score
or letter grade
Dr. Rosemary Cleveland – GVSU Faculty
College of Education
Kimberly Kenward – GVSU Instructional Designer
Academic Computing

2. Setting the Stage
• Successful online/hybrid faculty are well
organized and have a genuine interest in
helping their students learn.
• Successful online students are self-motivated
and independent learners.
• Written and oral feedback is even more critical
in the success of an online/hybrid student

3. Setting the Stage
• Give frequent, early, positive feedback that
supports students' beliefs that they can do well.
• Ensure opportunities for students' success by
assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too
difficult (scaffold assignments)
• Help students find personal meaning/value in
the material and connecting that meaning to real-
life application
• Create an atmosphere that is open and positive.
• Help students feel that they are valued members
of a learning community.

4. Setting the Stage continued…
• Make feedback another part of the learning process.
• Ask students to provide feedback. Students can monitor
and provide feedback to other students, as well as
compare their work to criteria.
• Engage students in review of their own work and
others. This can be very effective using the wiki tool, the
group pages discussion board, and the file exchange.
• Use rubrics. Rubrics provide criteria against which
students can compare their learning. Even better, involve
students in developing rubrics. Rubrics help students
focus their effort.

5. Objectives
• Although there are many tools that can be
used to provide feedback, this
presentation, will showcase how Blackboard
allows for a variety of personal/private
feedback using the Wimba Voice tool, journal
entries, and detailed “personal” feedback in
the Grade Center.

6. Background Information
• Course Development History for EDG633 &
EDG638 (Dr. Cleveland)
– Constructivist approach (feedback is used to help the
student take control and find success in their
learning)
– Piloting of Wimba Voice (2010)
– Journals vs. Discussion Board (scaffolding of
assignments)
– Feedback mid-semester surveys
• The role of the instructional designer & faculty
member (Kim Kenward)
– Support and technical considerations for Wimba

7. Wimba Voice Announcements
• Students appreciate hearing the instructor’s
voice prior to the 1st f2f session
• If there are no f2f sessions, Wimba voice gives
a “personal” element to the instructor

8. Wimba Voice
• Wimba Voice allows for quick audio feedback. It's
like sitting down and having a conversation with a
student.
• Wimba reduces the amount of time that it takes
to respond to students. Most faculty can talk
faster than they can type.
• It allows for more constructive feedback. The
feedback comes so much easier and more
complete when I'm speaking rather than writing.

9. Mid-Semester Survey
Do the Voice Announcements enhance the instructor’s
presence and involvement with course materials?
Percent
Answers
Answered
True 72.727%
False 27.273%

10. Wimba Voice Grade Center
“I think that adding the Wimba voice file to my
grade comments was worthwhile. It adds a
personal feel to the online course. It is good to
receive audible feedback which contains many
elements that are lacking in written feedback.”
(Lisa, online student, October 2011)

11. Grade Center Written Feedback

12. Discussion Board Private Feedback
using the Grade Tool

13. The role of the Journal
• Journaling often remains an underused
learning tool in an online/hybrid course.
• Journaling is an excellent tool to supplement
the discussion board and encourages
students’ personal and professional growth
and development.
• Journaling promotes individual self-discovery
in a confidential manner (sometimes students
may often include personal information).

14. Additional Journal Purposes
• Maps, charts & graphs
• Hyperlinks to web resources
• File attachments

15. Mid-Semester Survey
How has private journal entries assisted your
mastery of course content?
-The private journals offer great reflection and connection to
own personal teaching experiences in conjunction with the
authors and the readings.
-The private journal has caused me to reflect on my readings
and has helped me to comprehend the content.

16. Mid-Semester Survey
-The discussion board questions help guide my reading, the
journals force me to really reflect upon what I am learning.
-The journal lets you say what you want with only the instructor
viewing it. It makes you feel comfortable so you can be more
truthful and upfront when writing. The journals have made me
look at myself and apply what we are reading to my life and
future career.

17. Journal Feedback Tips
• Don't delay feedback. The longer students
have to wait for feedback, the weaker the
connection to their effort becomes, and the
less likely they are to benefit.
• Be encouraging and appreciative of their
views.
• Quality responses in the part of the instructor
tend to increase the quality of the journal
responses from the students.

18. Journal Feedback
• Give frequent, early, positive feedback

19. Journal Considerations
Consider putting all the
requirements into a folder
for easy access and
“at-a-glance” referral.

20. Additional thoughts…
• Help students get it right. If students know you want to
see them succeed, and you're willing to help explain
how, their learning improves.
• Give students opportunities to improve, try again, and
get it right. This might not be appropriate with every
assignment, but allowing resubmissions goes a long way
in helping student’s master course content.
• In addition to detailed feedback, providing exemplar
work also goes a long way in helping students understand
what's a "A" paper or project.

21. Questions