Reflections on the Online Environment-Part 2

How People Learn

I never considered that there are scientific theories that measure how people learn but when one actually considers it, it makes sense. People are different and how they tackle assignments and absorb information would be different as well, at least in theory. Having said that, because people learn in different ways, instructors have to be sensitive to that to meet their learning needs.

The difficulty can come in as far as deciding which learning theory to use for specific assignments but the answer may be to incorporate several different pedagogies throughout the course. There is no one-size-fits all approach. Also, it does not matter if the teaching is in the classroom or in an online environment. This forms the basis of a student-centered approach and, hopefully, a more well-rounded learning experience for students.

During this session, I learned that there are seven principles centered around effective teaching and learning online (listed below) and most of them I have attempted to foster in the traditional classroom environment. The online environment presents a challenge as far as the modality used to achieve these objectives.

Seven Principles

• Encouraging contact between students and faculty [where communication is enhanced];
• Developing cooperation among students [by incorporating team building exercises and fostering group work cohesiveness];
• Encouraging active learning where students by [building in challenging real-life scenarios where students have to conduct their own research];
• Providing prompt feedback [to provide guidance and recommendations on completing assignments];
• Emphasizing time on task [which encourages building time management skills];
• Communicate expectations [to ensure students know what is expected];
• Respect diverse talents and ways of learning [by encouraging students to respect each other’s opinions, be mindful of netiquette].

 Instructional Strategies

There are a few strategies I would weave into an online teaching environment. One would be project work where I provide a means for students to gain experience they can apply that is interesting and challenging. This strategy also houses others such as role playing, case studies, and collaboration and in this sense, the students get a well-rounded exposure to many of them.

The other instructional strategy I would choose to weave into an online course would be that of case studies. Case studies provide real information of issues that actually occurred and examines the approach and response that was utilized to resolve the issue. I am a firm believer that instructors have to teach the theoretical and conceptual but they also have to link those to reality-based applications and case studies provide that link. In essence, students are prepared intellectually and through practical application and simulation.

Technology

Technology is a huge part of designing online courses and there are many to choose from; some are expensive and others are free. The challenge for the instructor is deciding which one will be best to utilize (i.e., multimedia, static text/images, wikis, video clips, conferencing, etc). In my disciplines, I think multimedia technologies are best because they can be interactive which makes the learning experience more interesting. As a group project, we were commissioned to research Internet sites that would work well in an online environment and link them to a rubric to determine how effective they would be. We provided a rubric and annotated bibliographies of websites that fit that met that criteria. The link can be accessed at:

http://annotatedbibliographygrp1.wetpaint.com

Reflection

Overall, this course has been very challenging in terms of course concepts use of technology and time management, however I do feel that online teaching is a good fit for me. There is still much to learn but hopefully I will become more familiar with online teaching as a concept over time. My only concerns are about managing time and communication better and learning about digital content used in actual course design as this is new to me. I am up to the challenge though and am looking forward to exploring new horizons.  It is challenging, probably harder than traditional classes but it also has its rewards.

Reflections on the Online Environment-Part 1

Initial Perceptions

When I began this course, I was filled with thoughts of what it would be like. I had taken online courses before, however, that was a few years ago and I was sure that the world of online teaching, online communication, and the technology that supports these dynamics had changed just by virtue of how everything in life seems to be moving very fast and evolving. To finish the course, I will have to budget my time accordingly and interact with others to increase my knowledge. I was not aware that there was more than email or discussion posts to contact others but there is also chat and a wiki page.

Becoming Familiar with Tools

I was familiar with WebCT but had never heard of Blackboard. Other terms that I had only heard of in passing or maybe even utilized but was unaware of their composition were “Wiki”, and “Blog” and the first part of the course introduced me to them. After reading up on and experimenting with them, I realized that I only needed to become familiar with them as tools and I found actual use of them was quite user-friendly, to my delight. Also, these tools are used universally and have become acceptable standards.

Social Constructivism Theory and Implications

The online course delved into some interesting and involved topics that were, sometimes, challenging to say the least. For example, after reading about social constructivist theories and how they are related to online learning and teaching, I became somewhat overwhelmed. As I studied and perused the information further, it began to make sense and I began to connect the dots and began to think about ways I could incorporate the information. When one thinks about it, the social constructivist teaching and learning models make sense. One of the models that I identify with (Carwile, 2007), states that learners move from being a passive recipient to the center of instruction that involves collaboration and interactions, with their life experiences woven into the process (mental construct). From an instructor perspective under this model, the role is more of that of a facilitator who fosters student collaboration. The fact is, a student-centered model places the student in the best position to build knowledge in self-learning and group settings. Although online learning is more difficult because it requires me to be more disciplined with my time, conversely, I am allowed to tie what I am learning together with my own experiences. In this sense, it makes learning easier for me. 

Types of Online Courses

I also reflect on the various types of online courses (i.e., fully online, hybrid, blended and web-enhanced). I had never considered that courses may work better blended or as a hybrid, especially when the course may require actual hands-on experience, such as one would find in a science or medical-based class. In any case, when designing a course in any of the above categories, certain criteria must be met for it to help students meet learning goals. Content should be written in good English, be easy to understand, pages should load quickly, outside experts used when appropriate and material should follow a logical sequence. One of the most important elements is that it should be designed in such a way that it caters to all of the learning styles indicated below. Sometimes weaknesses can become apparent if online courses are not designed with the above in mind. Existing courses can be enhanced by uploading course information with instructions in a progressive format with visuals and maybe even audio or video clips.

Learning Styles

 (Google Images)

While working in corporate America, I had had some exposure to learning styles but not to the extent presented in the course. People learn in very different ways and in ways that maximize the learning experience for them. There is actually a science to learning styles and each of us affects towards one and pieces of other styles to some degree. My preferred learning style is the Visual/Verbal style. I tend to like to study alone in a quiet room and see information in my "minds eye" when trying to remember something.

At other times, depending on the project, persons may substitute one learning style for another and move along the continuum. While much research has been done on learning styles, one popular one is the Diablo Valley College (DVC) survey which measures if one learns best in:

• Visual/Verbal Style where information is presented visually and in written language formats;
• Visual/Nonverbal Style where picture design and visuals work best;
• Tactile Kinesthetic Style where “hands on” works best; and
• Auditory/Verbal where auditory and oral language works best.

I believe that the Gardner learning style list was more comprehensive than that of the DVC and it included eight (8) styles).

  

Group Interaction

I learned that working in group projects can be easier if there is a quarterback or group captain with strong leadership skills. The caveat is that “strong” does not necessarily translate into demanding or not being part of a team. While group projects can have their advantages, I learned that the greatest advantage is that one can lean on team members for support in areas where they may have less knowledge and they can also offer new and innovative ideas to help reach the goal. As long as the online environment is safe, with guidelines for interaction including proper netiquette, relationship building and group cohesiveness can be achieved as well.

Teaching Style

(Google Images)

I was not surprised to learn that my teaching style is geared more toward that of a facilitator, versus a delegator, however, I did have to bear in mind that as a facilitator, in designing and teaching online courses, that students learn in very different ways and I have to constantly adjust my teaching styles accordingly for their benefit.

E-Portfolios

This is a great way to showcase talent and demonstrate proficiency to academic and business arenas. I had never seen an e-portfolio before but I was impressed with the samples. Not only does an e-portfolios bring everything together in one place but it can also give a sexy and professional look. My strategy to create my e-portfolio will be  to utilize Wetpaint Wiki and keep the content simple and easy to read and follow.

Current Perceptions of Online Learning and Teaching

The Internet contains a vast amount of information and we tap into that information all the time. We use it for research, news, information, and even entertainment. In fact, the Internet has become the number one tool to give us information and to keep us connected with each other no matter where we are located; it has bridged geographical boundaries.

I have always been a proponent of online learning and have taken many online courses as a student. I believe that online learning and teaching supports another academic dynamic for teachers and students. From a business standpoint, online teaching and learning directly impacts an institution's ability to increase their student base and growth as an academic institution.

In pursuing an online teaching certification, I believe it will increase my professional development  as an educator and allow me to reach more students, however, there are some challenges. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace and it may be a challenge to adapt to new learnng platforms. For example, the online environment and interactions are quite different from what I was used to when I first took online courses. Additionally, it is a little daunting to be on the other end to learn how to create and master digital learning content from a designer's standpoint. It is a challenge to navigate and become accustomed to the website with all of the tabs and embedded links.

Despite these challenges, I know that realistically, the world we live in is not static but ever changing and we have to learn to adapt. Looking it from that vantage point makes the challenges less daunting. The fact is, online teaching and learning is here to stay and will become the norm rather than the exception. I hope to learn about the many tools that go into creating digital content and think about creative ways I can design content to meet the needs of students. After all, as an educator, my job is to enhance the educational environment.