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.