As this course comes to it final days, I sit here and complete my final blog. Taking this course has added extra interest in the online world of teaching and technology. My impressions of online teaching now are much more complete, and understood in terms of expected work and outcome whether be it student or teacher. A first hand experience allowed me to dig deeper into online teaching and its expectations, first hand.
Prior to me taking the online course, I thought it was going lack the need for a face to face setting. I quickly found as a student and learner of this course, what the web can do for a learner and what it has to offer.
The most thing I have enjoyed is exploring the web of its many teacher/ student resources. I have searched the web for many years and for various things but never felt the true need for resources as I have for this course! Yes, I was very amazed 4 years in an English major and hundreds of research and papers later, online teaching taught me how to use the web more effectively. During our group assignment we where asked to provide exemplary resources. When I began the assignment I had initially thought it was going to be easy, but that turned out NOT to be the case. Instead I searched and searched and searched!! But ultimately what I came across are websites that I enjoyed so much and cannot wait to use them with my own courses. I have already utilized many of these websites with my own children at home and they love it!
Resources from the web, there are so many you don't know where to start. Well the amount of research I had to do allowed me to find great websites, thus allowing me to share with whomever wishes to! So, enclosed are a few of my favorite sites I spotted while researching exemplary sources from the web for my online teaching course.
Keep these resources for your records:
www.techtechers.com/eng.htm
www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/
http://pic.tech4learning.com This is copyright freindly
www.webenglishteacher.com/profre.html.
http://webquest.org/index-resources.php
www.readwritethink.org/
www.universalteacher.org.uk
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
online learning...
As I reflect on online learning, the one thing that I was concerned about and thought would be the hardest, or near impossible, was group work. This course was my first online course. I had never experienced working with a group online previous.
My past group work experience has been in a classroom during my undergrad years. The group would consist of how everyone allotted for the course or by the teacher. At times the people in your group are at different levels of skill and ability to work within your group. I always enjoyed presenting and always received high marks on behalf of my group and for myself. But working with an online group was much different. Even though initially I was very nervous working in an online group, to be honest thought it was impossible.
After having a first go at online group work, I must say I was very impressed. Of course it also has much to do with the people who are in your group. Fortunately, everyone in my group was very organized, goal oriented, and very structured, I was very impressed. I always had high standards in my work and always hoped that those in my group would be the same. I had not experienced great group work until my online group. We all had the same goals, we worked equally as hard, and we worked to benefit everyone within the group in ultimately receiving a good grade.
This was not always the case in my f2f groups. Many times I ended up taking on the entire assignment or carried most of the weight. Many times it was unfair. I would hope to illiminate this unfairness if possible when I carryout my online courses.
Now after having this great experience with online group work I look forward in implementing group work online with my courses. I feel a learner regardless of online or ground base needs to learn how to work as a team, or in a group setting. I also feel that online group work helps in learning something new. I hope for my students to be able to experience group work in a different light.
For Example:
When online there is no choosing like you normally would in a classroom course.
I must be honest, when I used to choose my group partners, I always chose the most talkative in class, the not so shy, the best presenter... ya ta ya ta ya ta. I always, from day one of class, would look out for these characteristics. In an English major group work and presentations is on a weekly bases, so I always tried to have a heads up. And it so turned out, that I would choose the same ladies that I always worked with over and over threw out my undergrad years; we took many of the same courses together threw undergrad and liked the way we worked together. But ofcourse it took many bad group to find a good one I wanted to stick with. Let me tell you, I had some very bad experiences with group work. Once, I carried the weight for many in my group because the two ladies that where in my group where very nervous and they said it was new for them. So I decided to help them as much as I could. On day of presentation the other ladies where to go first then I was last. When the girl before me had her turn, she decided to use all my information portion of the presentation. You can only imagin my reaction! I was sick to my stomach. So when it was my turn I had nothing to say because she said it all! I will never be put threw that again.
With my online experience everyone had to submit they're finding one portion of the project at a time, everyone reviewed it, gave it the ok, then would go on to the next portion. I hope to impliment this structure when I teach online, and to offer the same quality experience of online group work as I have had!
I hope to one day offer within my online courses the satisfaction of relating and enjoying group work just as I have.
Useful sources I found;
Collaborative Learning:Group Work and Study Teams:
http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html
Seven Problems of Online Group Learning (and Their Solutions)
http://www.ifets.info/journals/10_4/22.pdf
Instructional Strategies for Online Courses
http://www.ion.illinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/instructionalstrategies.asp
http://www.tltgroup.org/Collaboration/collabexploreguide.htm
Managing—and Motivating!—Distance Learning Group Activities
http://www.tltgroup.org/gilbert/millis.htm
My past group work experience has been in a classroom during my undergrad years. The group would consist of how everyone allotted for the course or by the teacher. At times the people in your group are at different levels of skill and ability to work within your group. I always enjoyed presenting and always received high marks on behalf of my group and for myself. But working with an online group was much different. Even though initially I was very nervous working in an online group, to be honest thought it was impossible.
After having a first go at online group work, I must say I was very impressed. Of course it also has much to do with the people who are in your group. Fortunately, everyone in my group was very organized, goal oriented, and very structured, I was very impressed. I always had high standards in my work and always hoped that those in my group would be the same. I had not experienced great group work until my online group. We all had the same goals, we worked equally as hard, and we worked to benefit everyone within the group in ultimately receiving a good grade.
This was not always the case in my f2f groups. Many times I ended up taking on the entire assignment or carried most of the weight. Many times it was unfair. I would hope to illiminate this unfairness if possible when I carryout my online courses.
Now after having this great experience with online group work I look forward in implementing group work online with my courses. I feel a learner regardless of online or ground base needs to learn how to work as a team, or in a group setting. I also feel that online group work helps in learning something new. I hope for my students to be able to experience group work in a different light.
For Example:
When online there is no choosing like you normally would in a classroom course.
I must be honest, when I used to choose my group partners, I always chose the most talkative in class, the not so shy, the best presenter... ya ta ya ta ya ta. I always, from day one of class, would look out for these characteristics. In an English major group work and presentations is on a weekly bases, so I always tried to have a heads up. And it so turned out, that I would choose the same ladies that I always worked with over and over threw out my undergrad years; we took many of the same courses together threw undergrad and liked the way we worked together. But ofcourse it took many bad group to find a good one I wanted to stick with. Let me tell you, I had some very bad experiences with group work. Once, I carried the weight for many in my group because the two ladies that where in my group where very nervous and they said it was new for them. So I decided to help them as much as I could. On day of presentation the other ladies where to go first then I was last. When the girl before me had her turn, she decided to use all my information portion of the presentation. You can only imagin my reaction! I was sick to my stomach. So when it was my turn I had nothing to say because she said it all! I will never be put threw that again.
With my online experience everyone had to submit they're finding one portion of the project at a time, everyone reviewed it, gave it the ok, then would go on to the next portion. I hope to impliment this structure when I teach online, and to offer the same quality experience of online group work as I have had!
I hope to one day offer within my online courses the satisfaction of relating and enjoying group work just as I have.
Useful sources I found;
Collaborative Learning:Group Work and Study Teams:
http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html
Seven Problems of Online Group Learning (and Their Solutions)
http://www.ifets.info/journals/10_4/22.pdf
Instructional Strategies for Online Courses
http://www.ion.illinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/instructionalstrategies.asp
http://www.tltgroup.org/Collaboration/collabexploreguide.htm
Managing—and Motivating!—Distance Learning Group Activities
http://www.tltgroup.org/gilbert/millis.htm
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Reflecting on end of part 1....
While sitting here I begin to reflect on this course and past assignments in this online class. When I began the class I had thought it will be a lot of work... which not to my surprise it was. It was enough work to keep me on my toes. But in reality it takes the instructor to make the class a little less dreary and more exciting and innovative. In this online class, when I did not understand, I always had the support of Jan and the support of my online peers. This was very important in helping ease the online class.
Ultimately as I look back I must say I have learned a lot to date. I also hope to learn just as much in the months to come.
Starting this class was difficult, in a sense, because I have never taken an online course previous. I have used blackboard but never Web Ct. Web Ct was truly a new experience for me but an enjoyable one. I really appreciate learning something new. I feel as thow I get a jump start on something new in techonlogy and on online education.
At first, I was definitely uncomfortable and worried about becoming overwhelmed. Although, I new I was willing to put in the work that was needed to keep me afloat. After the initial tries with the online course, I was definitely able to keep up and understand the do's and the don'ts. At this point in the class I am very comfortable and look forward to future online classes.
When looking at the face to face experience juxtapose to online, I would have to say that as an online learner I enjoy it much more!! I wish more classes could be offered online. I am a hard worker, just as many are. I feel that driving to get to a location can really wear you down, cost too much in gas, and pull you away from your family or other important obligations. At least that's how I feel. I love to learn, and can never get enough, but traveling definitely gets in the way and if not for online I would not go back to school. I need to be at home because of my newborn child, she needs me, but during my down time I like to study, read, might as well get credit for it or a degree!
Online education is so important, you can do it anytime of day, whatever time is appropriate. That's what I enjoy with the online learning. I also feel that learning threw online is a good educational experience if not better than on campus. There are ways to stay connected with people from your online class that does not necessarily need face to face experience. There is email, chat, wimba, I guess you can even use video chat.
I feel online is a more effective in time management, and I love that!I feel I have gained so much from this online course thus far. I have become aware of many things that I did not think of before. For example my assignments really set up good questions, and gave me a lot to think about.
When I took the DVC survey it stated that I was a visual/nonverbal learner. This type of survey was new to me, although a good experience in what type of learner I really am. The survey was good information into who we are as learners and helps us to understand all other types of learners.
The VARK learning styles should be understood and provided to all students to comprehend and explore whether in a face to face setting or online. Some links that would help facilitate students are:The most important point that I had never considered before was the disabled. I am embarrassed to say that I have overlooked this matter because it has never really struck me, or brought up to what y attention.
I feel that of course it is crucial in understanding the need of all your students. And this is something that really opened my eyes and really caught my interest in how to make face to face class as well as online class more accessible and functional for the disabled. I also plan on letting my fellow coworkers, and associates catch on to the need of creating better methods for the disabled.
As I look at the closer in the first chapter of this online class, I can say that I definitely have learned many things that will help in my future online teaching experiences. Thus far, I feel much has been learned and experienced. I cannot wait to use these methods and techniques with my students but whats more is how my students will learn and prosper from they're online experiences.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Online teaching and learning...
This month I explored different teaching methods which can be functional while teaching online. For instance introducing a topics and offering interactive links to help facilitate the online learner.I came about this finding, when I recently worked with my group partners. The project explored different techniques for the online learner and his or her learning style.Once our project was complete, to see it all put together in such a cohesive nature was great and I cannot wait to use this process with my own courses.
What I enjoyed most, was not in particular the style of resources offered to the student but the capability of offering links in a general source for exploration. (in our online course in the discussion portion before we begin there are reading posted with links which guide us in a specific direction).Preparing links for the students to be able to explore, whatever the subject matter or style may be is a great way to keep students on track, give them the ability to research and explore without waisting so much valuable time searching on there own. We all know how researching can take us on a journey and process of its own. Facilitating in the nature of the research just gives a jump start for the student.Different uses of learning methods can be something as simple as adding links for videos, research material etc... This will help with understanding the material or subject matter of the project or research topic.
Here is an example: Lets say I wanted my online class to explore or research Online teaching.I give this general assignment lets say, "Explore and research online teaching."
I, as the instructor, can offer general links to "online teaching," and tell the student to send me a 15-25 slide pp presentation or written paper on online teaching and different approaches and methods.
1. How would you create your online course?
2. What would it look like?
3. What kind of links would you have?
4. What type of reading material available?
5. What would your lesson plan look like?
Then use your creativity to explain the most important information you would want me to read about your online teaching course.
Some links might look like this: (instructor offers) To help students explore online teaching resources
http://www.tzanis.org/tzanisblog/archives/cat course design.html
http://www.mgccc.edu/~distance_learning/instructor_resources.htm
http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/How-to-Become-an-Online-Teacher-40.html
This technique of using resources, links, from online is a great way to add the instructors input into what should be researched on the subject matter. When we did this in my group project I enjoyed seeing the outcome of various information links, (video, movie, time lines, interactive maps, games), which help the online learner with different learning styles, and methods. This is what I enjoyed most and hope to use in my courses. Offering a wide variety of online resources for the online learner.
draft
4:29:00 PM
by neza
Delete
What I enjoyed most, was not in particular the style of resources offered to the student but the capability of offering links in a general source for exploration. (in our online course in the discussion portion before we begin there are reading posted with links which guide us in a specific direction).Preparing links for the students to be able to explore, whatever the subject matter or style may be is a great way to keep students on track, give them the ability to research and explore without waisting so much valuable time searching on there own. We all know how researching can take us on a journey and process of its own. Facilitating in the nature of the research just gives a jump start for the student.Different uses of learning methods can be something as simple as adding links for videos, research material etc... This will help with understanding the material or subject matter of the project or research topic.
Here is an example: Lets say I wanted my online class to explore or research Online teaching.I give this general assignment lets say, "Explore and research online teaching."
I, as the instructor, can offer general links to "online teaching," and tell the student to send me a 15-25 slide pp presentation or written paper on online teaching and different approaches and methods.
1. How would you create your online course?
2. What would it look like?
3. What kind of links would you have?
4. What type of reading material available?
5. What would your lesson plan look like?
Then use your creativity to explain the most important information you would want me to read about your online teaching course.
Some links might look like this: (instructor offers) To help students explore online teaching resources
http://www.tzanis.org/tzanisblog/archives/cat course design.html
http://www.mgccc.edu/~distance_learning/instructor_resources.htm
http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/How-to-Become-an-Online-Teacher-40.html
This technique of using resources, links, from online is a great way to add the instructors input into what should be researched on the subject matter. When we did this in my group project I enjoyed seeing the outcome of various information links, (video, movie, time lines, interactive maps, games), which help the online learner with different learning styles, and methods. This is what I enjoyed most and hope to use in my courses. Offering a wide variety of online resources for the online learner.
draft
4:29:00 PM
by neza
Delete
Friday, January 16, 2009
LEARNING ONLINE... IN 2009!
Hellooooo and welcome to my blog! Nice to have you!Learning...
Exploring...
Online Teaching in 2009.
This year I began my M.A. along with a certificate in Online Teaching. I currently have my B.A in english and chose Online teaching to give me flexability in the workforce. I love learning and I do not like to take breaks from education. In 07/08 I graduated from GSU and decided to work right away. I worked at a private school in Indiana. There I worked as an assistate to the pricipal, but my job title was Administrative Coordinator. I enjoyed working at the school where I learned a lot and met great people. Most importantly the students where great and I enjoyed going to work everyday!!!
I had my daughter in Sept so it made it hard for me to work, but I knew I had to do something with my time off.
Here I am back in school and loving it!
Why I chose Online Teaching:
I enjoy teaching very much. Online teaching would be a great way to enhance or add to my teaching skills. I look forward to learning from my online teaching course and using the course effectively in the years to come.
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