Instructional+Unit+in+a+Virtual+Classroom

=**//Instructional Unit in a Virtual Classroom//**=



Classroom URL: @http://tinyurl.com/yevnpfx 

__Project Description__

The Instructional Unit in a Virtual Classroom was the culminating focus of the course. The project allowed candidates to synthesize an authetic learning tool using the skills acquired over the seven-week course. Using Blackboard, candidates put together a virtual classroom environment and desinged an instructional unit. Candidates composed a syllabus, created instructional media, and provided students an opportunity to communicate and collaborate with fellow students within the virtual classroom setting. Much of the content was scaffolded throughout the duration of the course. The virtual classroom is not meant to be a supplement to classroom instruction, but rather a substitute for it.

__Process__

Throughout the duration of the course, candidates constructed some of the instructional media that was to used within the instructional unit for our virtual classroom. During the second week of the course, candidates began construction of the physical learning environment, including the main navigation bar. The fourth week of the course focused creating instructional media -- and by the fifth week of the course candidates had created a screencast and VoiceThread that could be used within their instructional units. The final week of the course allowed candidates to compose their instructional unit's syllabus.

__Reflection__

Prior to this course, I had never constructed a virtual classroom. It was a unique experience to build a virtual classroom essentially from scratch. Writing an instructonal unit with virtual learners in mind also posed a challenge, as planning for student motivation and initiative must become more of a concern due to the lack of true face-to-face interaction. While I enjoyed creating the virtual classroom, I am not sure where I might get the opportunity to demonstrate my skills in terms of real world experience. I plan to apply many of these skills, however, into my classroom website -- though it is meant to be a supplement to actual classroom instruction. __Works Cited__