Overview of Course Tool Usage:
Click on any part to read more details about that option:
Neutral Zone
The main communication point for this course will be the Neutral Zone. This area will contain the competencies and list of options for both pathways each week. Please make sure to read the the options for both pathways to make sure you understand the choices for each week.
HumanMOOC Connect Area
The HumanMOOC Connect area is a tool for social learning connections. You will use this tool to connect with other learners and submit proof of accomplishing course competencies. You can also use Twitter or any other tools you like to share your work, but this is an area that is dedicated specifically to this course.
You can also add your blog to the HumanMOOC Blog Hub to have your blog posts automatically added. See this post for the sign up form.
Activity Bank
Once you have set goals and started connecting with other learners in the Connect area, you can go to the Activity Bank to find some activity ideas to work on. These will be activities that go beyond the basic activities in the Canvas course content, specifically designed for those that want alternative activities or those that dig deeper into the weekly content.
Crossing Over
At any time you wish, you can partake of any aspect of the course that you feel you need. We don’t want you to think that you are locked into any one path once you start on it. Feel free to cross over at any moment, or mix elements of both, or stay strictly in one or the other. Please see the Course Overview for more details.
Canvas
Canvas is the main content area of this course. You can view content, videos, and other activities here. You can also access all other tools through Canvas. You can find the Canvas front page for this MOOC here:
https://www.canvas.net/browse/canvasnet/courses/humanizing-online-instruction-1.
Canvas Forums
You will end up with many questions as you move through the Canvas portion of the course. Look for the “I Need Help!” forum in Canvas for help with anything you are having problems with.
The Canvas forums and social activities will help you connect with others in the course in various ways. These activities are designed to help you interact with others in a guided fashion, predetermined by the instructor.
Canvas Activities
The activities in Canvas are designed to help you complete the competencies in a more guided, specific manner. For those that are new to this topic, these activities are a good way to prove you have understood the content.
The Garden
This pathway is designed to be more like a social, non-structured, self-guided pathway that may be new to many of you. You will work through creating your own goals and connecting with other learners to think through various activities. This is a good pathway for more advanced learners or those that prefer more interactive learning experiences. See the Course Overview for more details.
The Stream
This pathway is designed to be more like the linear, guided knowledge pathway that most of you are used to in a typical online course. You will work through a pre-determined set of videos, content, and activities. This is a good pathway for new learners or those that prefer more structured, guided learning experiences. See the Course Overview for more details.
Repeat
At any point in the course of learning, you are free to go back and repeat anything you would like to. This could be to catch something you may have missed or to repeat previous material at a deeper level.
Competencies
In order to earn the badges for this course, you will need to complete the course competencies. Course Competencies have been designed so that you can complete them in the Garden or Stream pathways. However, all artifacts produced to prove mastery of competencies will need to be submitted in the appropriate areas of Canvas no matter what pathway you chose.
Ready for Social Learning?
For those that are ready to engage with the “outside the classroom box” side of things, this page is the guide to getting started.
Social Learning
After working through the content or connecting with other learners and choosing an activity to work on, you will take your work to your blog, twitter account, or any other site you would like to use. Please see the Social Learning Handbook to see how to set up a personal learning network.
Even if you are in the guided (blue) pathway or a lurker, you can still participate in the social dialogue at any time. See Social Learning Handbook and choose which avenues you would like to engage with.