Farewell blog ontl 652

diagram Ontl 652

I will blog tonight about course design particular issues, my experience, future application of the concepts in the final project design, or future role as a designer/ teacher of online courses.


When I first began this course I was excited to get back into the grove of ONTL, since I took a semester off. I had known Jan from the first online teaching certificate course so it was nice to be around familiar online peers.

When I registered for this course, I thought it was not going to include so many intense detailed components. Already online courses are far more intense than a face to face course, but I always enjoyed that challenge. I enjoyed the challenge of the online learning environment because I was being asked to become a learner. I read for me, participated for me, I learned a lot through online education and enjoy this new form of learning; which at one point thought I was never going to see it in a face to face setting. Except this summer I did, however that was only one course in my 18 years of learning.

Okay, moving on to course design particular issues. While reflecting on the process in ONTL design all I can say is wow! What a challenging semester! The course designing was just as Jan our instructor had forewarned. The course had many detailed aspects to it, for e.g. many draft opportunities, peer reviews submissions, blog entries, discussion board topics, summary design evaluations, assessment worksheet assessment plans, instructional worksheets, wow again and out of breath!

Now that the course is at its end, issues I had with the design process were the fast passed environment, more so than previous online courses. The class kept me on my toes! I would have liked more contact with classmates but not through peer review other forms of interaction. The group work was helpful in terms of guidance and some interaction.

The peer reviews where helpful, but also was a hard process. Offering peer review feedback after completing my own work confused me. I think this process needs to be adjusted somehow, I don’t know if the confusion or lack of interest was because of overwhelming course content already on my plate, I don’t know. If it was me I would not include peer reviews online because I found that it was hard to get good feedback and a comment needs to be a complete thought offered by further comments and that is impossible to do online. I was guilty of this myself; I felt that if I offered feedback it may confuse the reviewer because I was not able to offer feedback to the feedback. Lol

Peer Review Resources from course readings:
http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/evaluate/evaluate.htm

Seven Principles of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens for Evaluating Online Learning

Assessment was a difficult concept to grasp at first but I enjoyed the readings for assessment they helped a lot.

Principles of Assessment and Evaluation
http://www.gecdsb.on.ca/d&g/onlinepd/Assessment%20&%20Evaluation/Assessment%20Frames.htm

Authentic assessment tool box  http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/index.htm

I most enjoyed Ice breakers which introduce peers to one another and the blogs. Maybe because these course contents are laid back and relaxed.



The most difficult was completing the final, and the instructional plan in sections. I am not used to this type of paper process. I usually have to present a final project by completed plan from beginning to end, and then present it for a final grade.

Also I found it difficult to understand the concept of delivering one portion of the course design. For instance, I presented the design plan for only three units. For me it is more difficult doing it in stages rather than completing all the lessons and seeing the whole picture and then making final adjustment. It made it difficult picking out the course readings, resources, assignments. Of course, the design process became clearer as I completed the course because finally I’m able to see an outcome. So this was a difficult process and adjustments in mind set. But Jan did say it was going to be interesting to see the final outcome and she was right there.

This course design process has taught me to consider issues in a design process which I have not thought of before. But maybe that is the purpose of designing, to explore issues that work and did not work then adjusting them to fit your students learning needs. Each instructor and learner will find things they like, and thing that they do not wish to include. This ultimately will reflect their personal course design.

All in all, the course was a challenge. I worked very hard to complete this course; I went through many devastating personal issues yet kept going. So I end this course knowing even though I had difficulties in the course and life, I prevailed.

It was great meeting everyone; we might cross paths again someday, until then, love life, live it well and live it with purpose.

Bye

Online Design Trials and Tribulations.....

Now that I am coming up to the final stages in my online teaching certification, I can say that the design course has been most difficult of all the courses.

Thus far in the designing aspect of the course the paper writing has been the most difficult. There are certain issues that I have encountered which caused a few minor mistakes that I was able to get help with. As each week passes I feel very confident in what I am doing. I learn more as each week passes.

This program has been a goal of mine for years prior to actually beginning the program. Once I began I realized how much the program has to offer. Also my experience with the course and its instructors and online community has been very rewarding. This process has been an easy journey until I came to designing online. This portion of the course had been difficult and stressful.


What I found a struggle in this course is the communication process, more so than the design aspect of this course. Since I have never experienced these types of problems in the online program, this has been very difficult for me.


Also I found life has its ways of interfering with the learning process. Too many instances this semester have made things a little more difficult than the norm. I feel it has caused me to lose track and focus at that given moment. So I ask myself what is a teacher to do in this instance.



This is a question I ask myself today, "What will I do to keep my student on track after they have had to cope with a serious life situation?" As I journey through this program in order to achieve a certification in online teaching I question my experience and situations and consider how I might help my students in overcoming this trial in their lives and accomplish completing the course as they had intended.



I think it is my job as an online instructor to give hope to the student and an organized outline: "What to do from this point." I would hate for my student to have the burden of life’s situations and the uncertain outcome of the course looming the student. I have learned more than just carrying out an online course it terms of facilitating, designing and what have you, but most importantly the students.



That being said, after taking this course and almost half way through; there are issues that I now think about with my future online learners. Understanding the complications of communicating effectively online and the likability of miscommunication can cause much conflict with the student and their ability to learn in an online environment. Although many have had great experiences with online learning there are those who do not like the lack of f2f interaction do to miscommunicaiton problems while in an online course.


Whether it be student student interaction or facilitator student interaction.

I think that this is a very touchy subject that needs to be addressed early on in each course f2f & online. I do believe that an online course is more likely to come across miscommunication in the virtual world. Considering the lack of f2f interaction which offers body language and eye to eye contact in contrast (online) which have no visible cues?

Look at this note I found and how communication can be misconstrued.

Click here to view Miscommunication letter





I understand how communication can be lost in translation while communicating though virtual reality, this topic is familiar to me. I recently wrote a paper on e-mail miscommunication; are the word we are sending really what we mean, or lost in translation?



The communication process in the virtual world is a concern that cannot be overlooked. Lack of body language and eye contact can at times leave interpretation up in the air. It is true that the message may be clear, but sometimes that message looks much clearer to the sender rather than the receiver; and this is where the message might become lost in translation. Some might be insulted by this intention or suggestion but the truth is this happens to even the most knowledgeable in this matter (virtual communication) and have had their own personal run in with miscommunication through virtual messages.


Avoid Email Miscommunication

http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/10/avoid-email-miscommunication.php

Here is an example: Improving Communication in an Online Course: http://www.brighthub.com/education/online-learning/articles/47459.aspx

Avoiding Online Miscommunication Avoiding Online Miscommunication By Melinda Roberts Tyler I will never forget the note I received at the end of one of my first semesters teaching ...


Teaching and Learning Online: Communication, Community and Assessment. Chapter 3: Teaching and Learning Challenges.

http://www.umass.edu/cft/publications/Teaching_and_Learning_Online_Handbook.pdf

This is a really nice link on interaction in online learning and communication. Interactions http://www.trenton.k12.nj.us/columbus/library/Interactions.htm gives some tips on what to think about while communicating.
Some Links I found valuable in understanding communication and online communities as well as miscommunication in the virtual enviornment. (online learners):

In Conclusion:

All in all, not only has this course taught me the value of an online community and to appreciate the help of my peers through feedback and inquiry, but also brought to mind my own journey through teaching online and the situations I will encounter as I teach in this virtual environment.

Design is something that will be forever changing while facilitating an online course, so it will be very fast passed and forward in terms of technology. This is something I look forward to and want go above and beyond what there is to offer in terms of technology for my students.

As I began my undergrad studies after a long break I realized how behind I was in terms of technology. I promised myself that this was going to be no obstacle and that I was going to keep moving forward and understanding technology for all that it had to offer. And I will.........

652 Designing Online! We will have to wait and see!

"Designing online courses."


What I have learned about design, now that I have taken two previous courses? 

By taking the initial 2 courses in ONTL I feel that the preparation work and the understanding for online teaching has got me to the point to FINALLY want to DESIGN my own course!  

If I would have not taken the two previous courses and taken the necessary steps this process would not have been as enjoyable.

Designing, will allow me to explore and understand the process and commitment that is needed to assemble an online course.  Also by designing I can explore all my options, tools/techniques in order to one day have the capability to carry out my own online teaching course. 

Since I am currently in the GSU communication grad program, I really wanted to design a communications course fully online. 

I wanted to see how much information, sources, I can utilize in order to get the course objective to the students in a manner which will be very effective.  I have taken f2f courses in communications and one intro communication course online.

This semester I have had an inspirational person take me through a learning journey called, "Interpersonal communication." But since this class is only f2f, I thought this would be a great class to take online, and access all technique and strategies possible in a fully online course.

I would hope to learn from the designing process & how to carry out my own online teaching course.  Also to take what has been taught f2f and take it up a notch; offering a new way of learning in the field of communication studies.

Ultimately, this is a course that is going to get me one step closer to fulfilling a dream! I hope this experience will allow me to offer students a new and innovative way of learning.

Double Duty Knowledge:
This picture when I seen it made me laugh! I love it! and She remind me of myself. I'm sure all women can relate to this!

My expectations with Online Design Course:
I am vary excited as I begin this course and look forward to the first project of designing an online course!
I hope the online design course will open new avenues, ideas, imagination to what I can create and how capable I will be of designing as a whole.

I hope to achieve a new learning and teaching style which is innovative and can take with me in whatever profession I choose. I also hope to build a community relationship with my online class members in the hopes of offering guidance and that extra push and advice for the better accomplishment of the course. I value my peers advice, and enjoy the wide diversity of the online community has to offer.

My Facilitation Experience...

Asynchronous vs. Synchronous

Beginning with the Asynchronous communication; this technique was not knew to me, but I must say made me a little nervous since it was my first time actually facilitating a class on my own on live Wimba. I expected to be nervous and scared! I feared I would mess up or not keep the class on track or interested. After my first and second experience I can say that my experience where very pleasant, I enjoyed them and cannot wait to beginning teaching on my own, full time!
Wimba live takes a lot of prep work, research and good information to be shared with the class. As well as experience in using power point. I enjoyed doing the ppt presentations and sharing my findings with my peers.

My Asynchronous experience recommendation for others, who will be facilitating with wimba is to try every tool to see what works best for your section. I had tested many of the tools before hand yet there was one tool that I was afraid to use in fear of reveling my entire desktop to the class.It turned out that was not the case. So asking about the particular tools in advance if you are not sure is a good idea. Other than that, my experiences with Asynchronous Wimba was great!!!

With the synchronous facilitation I spent a lot of time on the pc answering and posting comments and offering feedback. And as it turned out, unit 12 had a lot of topics to cover, so it took me much time to cover all the questions posted. Facilitating synchronous was very relaxed in my case, but it definitely did keep me on my toes in terms of fear of not responding effectively so I was online often. Fortunately, I was able to do my job as a facilitator, and as far as I know completed with the proper procedures and or techniques.

This is my first experience with online synchronous facilitating and I enjoyed it greatly! To me, I felt the synchronous discussion post facilitation was easier in terms of preparation than that of the asynchronous wimba. Closing comments: I expected that my facilitating experience was going to be much more frightening and time consuming than it actually was. I enjoyed facilitating and was very relaxed, which surprised me! I enjoyed the interaction and comments and experiences offered by my peers. The peer evaluations where also helpful in pin pointing the good and suggestions which can help you improve for future facilitation experiences. The entire facilitation process needed organization, time management, and proper feedback response in order to keep the course properly flowing. So facilitating takes a lot of time.

I was not surprised about the experice expcept for the fact that my nervse did not get the better of my while I was facilitating which was great, I was very comfortable. The only techniques I applyed as the weeks progressed is try to spend more time online in order to complete the job,
I found that underestimating time can get you in a uncomfortable situation because life situations come up and if you prepare some things ahead it will hopefully not throw you off too much.

This experience has definitely changed my perspective on facilitation. After facilitating on my own, I now cannot wait to teach on my own!! I really enjoyed it! I am happy that I was given the opportunity and twice was even better! All in all, the online facilitating experience was enjoyable, and has me looking forward to teaching online in due time. This has been a memorable and exciting journey which has made me excited to what facilitating online really means, I look forward to the opportunity! NEZ

Wrapping up 2nd part of Facilitating Online....

In part 2, I discovered Facilitating Roles and all that is entailed! We I am sure it is not all but at least I know more now in comparison to previous.


So many roles of a facilitator to consider: As stated directly from our lesson module;


Week 3: Changing Roles

Week 4: Competencies

Week 5: Pedagogical Role

Week 6: Social Role - Building Community

Week 7: Managerial Role - Setting the Stage

Week 8: The Managerial Role - After the Class Begins

Week 9: Technical Role


Through Discussion Board, Wimba (live or archive), communicating through our class in facilitating online helped me understand more and more as we discussed the roles and how it will effect us as future teachers teaching online (like in my case). Or how we can improve or share our experiences as some in our class may have, and I appreciate listening to an actual experience of a classmate in the role of facilitating online and the pros and cons of certain experiences.



The above list basically brought to my attention the roles of a facilitator and the tools needed to become a prosperous and successful facilitator. Slowly, week by week the roles (units) brought me closer to finding what the roles are and how they will play out for a online facilitator. I did notice that as we delved into the units more, the more I felt it was getting more to the truth of what online teaching entails.

One real eye opening experience was when I read the diary in unit 8. This unit helped me really look at the different roles a facilitator and student play into the course and how much time and work is put into the follow up of the online class on behalf of the facilitator ex; feedback, email, questions, problems, etc....


The first few parts of this unit was something I expected (Week 3: Changing Roles, Week 4: Competencies, Week 5: Pedagogical Role.


What I felt was going to be very difficult yet after taking this couple of weeks by stride now at am ease ( Week 7: Managerial Role - Setting the Stage, Week 8: The Managerial Role - After the Class Begins

Week 9: Technical Role).


The reason for my worries initially with Managerial Role finally put the role I will be taking and the amount of responsibility I will have now that I have reached to this point. I think as someone who has never taught online but has taken courses online with various facilitators can get a feel for what worked for a student and what does not. And what facilitator’s techniques did you like and what you did not. But making them work for me and to insure my students are getting the best out of my course and what I have to offer is a heavy thought, and I hope will achieve it both for the sake of my sanity and my students!

The organization, structure and time that is needed is a no brainer, I feel it will make this smoother and less stressful for both parties (student/facilitator).


I personally enjoyed week 9 the most because it allowed me to see what is out there in terms of staying current. Searching the web for sources for the course on staying current allowed me to see how there is an endless possibility of information in helping the online teacher and the student.

Offered are links or university websites which can help in giving available resources, and join in online communities with the same interests to keep you in the know.


All in all this end of the second blog helped bring me closer to my realization of becoming an online facilitator one step at a time, and I cant wait!!!

Blog Post 2 Facilitating Online.....

As we close another week and another unit, I look back at the weeks past.

Four weeks have gone by and a lot has been covered as we close on this Sunday.

I must mention, two of the most different and some difficult things I had to learn was the HTML codes in unit 3&4.
Now, I must go back and review the readings to understand better all the HTML codes, my quiz scores where the proof of my lack of knowledge in the field of HTML. This is something I definitely have to read more about and understand the codes etc...

The different experience was Facilitating Online, not my own facilitation but my peers. It was a great experience!
I learned a lot, and took in a lot of the information that was put out there for us to use by the facilitator and other peers as well.

This weeks facilitator, I was able to experience it live. Unlike the first Wimba that was held which I reviewed by archive. I found that very boring, future reference, live Wimba is more interactive and keeps my attention front and center!

Furthermore, I liked the feedback and guidance of a live wimba, it was easier to give input and feedback, back and fourth threw live wimba, obviously. I tend to attend more live sections!

Most of all, I learned threw this initial few units what it would be like to facilitate online from my peers. Also explored outcomes of students and the reaction with student/facilitator interaction. I think by actually facilitating ourselves and sharing this with our peers breaks the ice. I am looking forward to facilitating online with my peers to not only get a reaction from them but for myself, to see how I feel as a facilitator! I cant wait and I hope my experience will be a good one in the hopes for future encouragement as I soon will teach one day!

Week in Review: Great Links and info/ Facilitating Online....
http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/raleigh.htm
Keys to Facilitating Successful Online Discussions

by Donna Raleigh, Coordinator of Technical Training and Instructional Technology,
Media Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire


http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/conflict.html11
"Conflict in Cyberspace:
How to Resolve Conflict Online"
Kali Munro, M.Ed., Psychotherapist

http://www.emoderators.com/moderators/teach_online.html
The Role of the Online Instructor/Facilitator
Zane L. Berge, Ph.D.

http://www.monash.edu.au/groups/flt/1999/online.html
On-line teaching and learning: New roles for participants
Ron Oliver, School of Communications and Multimedia, Edith Cowan University.

Readings: Changing Instructor Roles



http://www.mccneb.edu/elearning/responsibilities.asp
Student Responsibilities for Online Courses


http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/jaln/v8n2/pdf/v8n2_garrison.pdf
STUDENT ROLE ADJUSTMENT IN ONLINE
COMMUNITIES OF INQUIRY: MODEL AND
INSTRUMENT VALIDATION

HTML
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the language of the Internet. While at the moment you are reading this text in English, if you would right click on your mouse and then click "View Source" in the dropdown menu, you would see the HTML code that allows you to see this text in a format you can read. (Go ahead ... take a moment and "view source".)

Readings: Competencies for Online Instructors
Competencies for Online Instructors A brief list of competency elements under the basic roles of administration, design, facilitation and evaluation.

Critical Skills for Online Teaching We briefly looked at this resource during our overview of Online Teaching in the last class. This week we will spend more time with it as we consider what an instructor needs to do to prepare for becoming an effective instructor in the online environment.

University Instructors' Reflections on their First Online Teaching Experiences

Readings: Staying Current in Online Teaching

Online Educator: Keeping Current in Online Teaching

Educause

Based on our mission and focus, ELI explores three primary areas:

Learners
Learning Principles and Practices
Learning Technologies

http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/onlinelearning/blogger.html

Online Learning Update Ray Schroeder from the University of Illinois maintains this online learning blog. Each day he posts resources that appear on the Internet that are of interest to online educators. Make sure you bookmark this site!

Faculty Support for Online Teaching Discussion:

My Challenges:

http://www.davesite.com/webstation/html/chap02.shtml


HTML Code MiniChapter 2: The Common Tags

http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/a/asynchronous.html

Facilitating Online Learning Fall 2009...

Hello everyone!!! Great to be back and blogging!



My first blog for this course will be about my reaction to the upcoming assignment to Facilitate Online. Yikes!!!

Well, initially I was excited! Then I thought, ok, I have never done this before!

My expetations are to be prepared, focused and ready to do my job as a facilitator. I think this is a great way to experience Online teaching first hand. This will be a challenge since this is my first time, but hopefully a good one.

Online Facilitating for one whole week? Wow! Should be interesting, and new. I just signed up for my week to facilitate looks like I will be the last to complete the facilitating experience.

Good Luck to all!!!