438 reflection #3

This week I learned a couple of really important things about online learning. Interestingly, I learned these things because of participating in this class AND two other online classes. It has definitely given me a new perspective about participating in online classes and what online learning should be like through the assignments, videos, and discussions of this course. One of the things that has readily become apparent is the need for time management. If time is not managed properly, I don’t believe that eLearning will be effective.  This time management needs to come from both the instructor and the student. The instructor needs to set up the course in a way that challenges the student, yet still sets the student up for success—having clear expectations that are communicated clearly. Also, the student needs to make sure to take ownership of the course—keeping up with assignments in a timely manner. The other thing that I learned in this past week is how important instructor support is. Because the course is not taking place in a physical location where you can explain instructions in multiple ways, check in with students easily, and gauge facial expressions and body language for understanding, you have to be very explicit, if not repetitive, with initial instructions and then check in with students often, either responding to questions or soliciting feedback. As a student in another online class where the instructor has been very distant, I now understand just how important this support is.

438 Reflection #2

Originally, I wasn’t sure what this course was going to be like. I knew that it was about online learning, but that was about it. When I found out that we would be creating an online course of our own, I was intrigued but naively I didn’t think it would be that difficult. I consider myself pretty tech-savvy: I’m only 24; I don’t remember what life was like without a computer. However, this experience has been pretty eye-opening for me. I don’t think I was truly aware of the difference between face to face teaching and online education until I had to start creating a unit. The actual assignments have been fairly easy to create—they are similar to things I have had students do in the past, and I think I’m fairly skilled at verbalizing my thoughts on paper. However, creating the actual CMS has been a whole different story. I never realized how much work went into organizing an online course. I spent about 3 hours messing around with my wiki, trying to get it to look like I wanted to, and at the end of that time period I felt like I had put a lot of effort in but had little to show for it—I was still far from finished. I have gained such a better understanding of and appreciation for the preparation that goes into making online learning effective. This is something that I definitely won’t forget as I continue to improve my wiki to get it to the point where it will be a valuable addition to my sophomore class in the fall.

Quiz Reflections for C&I 438

I took both of the quizzes--student and instructor. As a student, I scored an 11 and was labeled a "great candidate" for online learning. I hope this means I will be successful in this course! I have previously taken two online courses (last summer) and found the format to be fairly easy to follow. I think this is due to the fact that I am extremely organized and self-motivated to get things done. I rarely wait until the last minute to complete a task, and I know that whenever I start something, I will continue working to complete it to the best of my ability. I think one of the hardest things for students transitioning to college is the increased importance of self-regulation and time management. The environment is completely different from K-12 schooling; now, responsibility is almost solely on the student. This is especially true for online learning. You have to make the choice to open up the computer and get your work done; there is no structured class time to keep you accountable.

As far as the instructor quiz, most of my answers were Cs and Ds. Again, I am a very organized person--I keep a very detailed planbook and calendar, and very rarely (if ever!) do I "just wing it" when it comes to teaching. I have grown up with technology, and while I'm not familiar with everything that is out there, I am very comfortable exploring and figuring out how to use new tools on my own. The only question that really made me cringe was the question about sitting at a computer for more than two hours. This is the one that I really don't know that I would be able to do--I have to schedule small blocks of time to work on my online course, or be sure that I am working back and forth between computer and pen/paper. I can't seem to sit still and concentrate on my laptop for that extended time. I also think about how I grade papers in my classroom--I struggle to grade things that my students submit electronically, I'm a bit "old school" in that I still like having the hard copy to write on. I think with this preference, I'd be much more likely to be successful teaching a hybrid course instead of something that was 100% online.