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.