I always like to get the good news first. Well, the good news is that this is my last
assignment for my Introduction to Online Teaching. I am tired but satisfied with a job well
done and an enormous of new knowledge and skills under my belt. I have also been able to make the decision
that I am really going to like online teaching. I am truly excited about the educational
journey that is ahead of me.
I had heard that the Certificate Program for Online Teaching
was a difficult one but I was unconcerned as I have always done well in
school. What I found out was that my
easy confidence had never been seriously challenged previously. This was surprising to me since I have a
Masters in Social Work.
I have entered a foreign land with a new language and have
had to develop a new skill set to assure my success and survival. During the last portion of this class I have
learned the 7 principle of online teaching many of which I am already
incorporating into my hybrid class during our online sessions. I have learned different ways to engage
online and how to encourage relationship between class mates. I have made myself more available and in a
wider manner of contact. I am focusing
on giving frequent positive feedback to encourage group process and to offer
encouragement. I have reworked some of
our group activities to be completed online and to encourage group cooperation
and collaboration. I am also using the diversity of our group to my advantage
and to the educational advantage of our classes.
I have been able to test this on two complete classes and am
now starting my third class. So far I
have had much success and the students are enjoying the class more. By the time they get to the face to face
portion of the class they have a relationship and are happy to put a face to
the name and voice.
I have learned quite a bit about student centered learning
which is great as this is the philosophy where I work. I have learned how to support and encourage
learners as they need to be highly motivated.
I spend more time on the WIFM (what’s in it for me?) during our early interactions. Once each individual is focused on what they
will gain from their time spent in the class they become more motivated and
energized. They must clearly
understand what their responsibility for learning is and that their success is
dependent on what they put in, that I am there to guide and facilitate not
lecture and dump information into their heads as we have before.
Not only do I have to keep current on what is new in our
field, but I give them links that they can use in the future to keep current
with their field specialty as well.
We learned about different learning styles and how to meet
the needs of students with various learning needs. A week before class, I am now sending out an
email that introduces myself and tells the class something about me. I also ask them to answer a few questions
about themselves. Some of the questions
are icebreaker questions, some are about their educational backgrounds and
experience, and others are about their learning styles, what I can do to
support their learning and if they have an barriers to learning. The students enjoy telling me about
themselves.
The information I gather assists me in breaking up the
groups so I have experienced and inexperienced people in the same group. It assists me in knowing what learning style
I am working with so I can provide material and activities in ways that best
meet their various learning styles. I am
using more flip chart paper than previously and am using colors in my markers
in various ways. This also allows the
student to disclose a learning problem or disability if they are
comfortable. To date I have not had a
disclosure but I will make the necessary accommodations when someone does share
a barrier with me.
We discussed various instructional strategies in class. The one that I focused on mostly was the
individual learning contract. We have
people entering our classes who are new from college and those who have worked
for the agency in a different capacity for 20 years. At this time they all receive the same
instruction. I am excited to learn that
we will be giving an assessment to identify gaps in knowledge and then working
with the students on learning contracts to fill those gaps. I had identified this strategy prior to
knowing that was the direction our agency is going so I was pretty impressed
that this course gave me the critical thinking skills to identify this as an
effective instructional strategy for our student population.
I have learned so much about technology, tools and search
engines: diigo, Merlot, Web 2.0, wiki, blogs, ning, delicious and voice threads
to name just a few. I am reorganizing
the way I keep my bookmarks and organize myself to I can more effectively and
efficiently use these new things. I know
that as I progress through my next 3 classes that I will have more to add to
this list. I am very excited about the
level of learning that has occurred and the challenges that I have received.
I started out by mentioning that I was tired. I think we all are. This has been some fast paced learning and we
have accomplished a lot. If you are at
all interest in teaching online, I suggest this course or one like it. You owe it to yourself and your students. I also started out with the good news. Here is the even better news, my next class
starts in two weeks so I am going to go rest now and get ready for my next
educational sprint in this foreign land.
I like this foreign land and will
keep at least one foot in this land.
See you soon!