LIT2T Leadership Guide

20 TO: TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.2 LINC Courseware Attributes and Benefits 4.2.1 Blended Approach A blended, or hybrid, approach to learning uses a combination of electronic and face-to-face teaching methodologies. The LINC courseware is designed to be ‘blended’ into the traditional LINC courses as the instructor decides or requires. Elements of the courseware can be used at any time during a LINC unit of instruction, for example as an introduction, as a key element or as a means of wrapping up a theme or unit. The diverse modes of presentation and interaction allowed by multimedia can add motivation, and accommodate diverse learning styles throughout a unit of instruction. Multimedia objects can include animation, video, audio, interactivity, images, charts, graphs, polls, quizzes and text documents. Rich media accessed through linkages to external web resources allows for unlimited grounding of the LINC curriculum from reliable vetted sources. In short, the learner experience is enriched by links to the World Wide Web and the embedded learning opportunities offered by LINC courseware. 4.2.2 Interconnected with LINC Classroom Activities Instructors will immediately be pleased to note that the LINC courseware complements the LINC Classroom Activities books. Instructors can be creative in terms of the sequencing of courseware activities within a unit of instruction. The courseware can be used as a warm up activity, a core activity within the lesson or unit or an additional activity to follow up in-class face-to-face dealings with the theme or concept. The teammembers that designed, developed and tested the courseware are professional educators with years of experience working with TELL and as TESL professionals. Since the content is based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (2000), the LINC Curriculum Guidelines (2002, 2007), and the LINC Classroom Activities Books (2009, 2010), the material is relevant, safe and reliable; however, the courseware will be updated to reflect updates to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (2012), and National Curriculum Guidelines as more information is available. 4.2.3 Plug and Play The courseware is plug and play. After an instructor requests the courseware and it is set up, the instructor simply opens the course. Since the learning management system is already loaded with courseware, each instructor opens a personal duplicate of the courseware. Instructors identify the composition of themes or skill units in their course when they order it. If they decide that they require more course topics or units, these can be added later. Instructors who have—or have tried to create—their own class webpage will appreciate this opportunity. 4.2.4 Archived on Tutela.ca As well, instructors can locate interactive SCORM learning objects in the instructor repository, Tutela.ca, preview them online, and then download and insert them into their courses. The LMS will seamlessly report learner activity and record grade book scores related to these learning objects. If set up in each activity, the LMS will also report activity completion for individual learners.