It is time to spread my wings!

The time has finally come! The end of a wonderful semester but the beginning of something new. Not just for myself, but what I have learned will greatly benefit my students! I am very excited about introducing new things on campus and sharing with my faculty peers. Being a part of this online learning community has truly been an enriching experience. If you have followed my Blog from the beginning, you already know how much I have learned. But those of you who are new to my Blog, I will try to summarize a few things within this posting. So, let's get started......

One of my most recent experiences was with Wimba. Before this class, I had never heard of Wimba. One of the assignments was to be prepared for a Wimba session. So, I quickly ran out to the nearest Best Buy store and purchased my equipment. Upon arriving home, I immediately tried everything out to see if it would work (3 weeks before the session). When it was time for the session, I did not know what to do! I brought everything that I thought I would need into the room (telephone, snacks, soda, pillow, paper & pen). It was really a production!

I was really surprised during the practice session how smoothly things flowed. There is definitely a learning curve associated with this platform and it would be smart for the moderator to learn the functionality before introducing this to the students. As an educator, I would utilize this with my students for classroom discussions (small groups), office hours, and maybe even student presentations. The good thing about this delivery of content, is that is real time and active participation is encouraged. The downside to this however is that it could become overwhelming for not only the instructor but the students if the groups are very large.

Another topic that comes to mind as I reflect on my learning in this course would be the creation of my digital portfolio. This was an excellent project as it forced me to understand and navigate independently to create this "personal diary" so to speak. This is an excellent resource for me to build upon as I continue to develop my teaching both f2f and online. I can actually showcase my accomplishments in one compact location. This is great because it is so transportable and visible. I have thought about how this would be useful for my students. I teach nursing and upon completion of the program, the students begin their trek of becoming gainfully employed.

I can visualize the students building their personal portfolio at each stage of the curriculum. Here they could highlight their clinical experiences and showcase their clinical skills for their future employer! They could upload their resume and any other credential that would support the positions that they are seeking. Prior to taking this online class, I would not have even thought about this possibility!

What I have found to be very valuable and priceless was the ongoing interactions that I had with my online peers. The whole idea of a "discussion board" went over very well with me. Not only did I gain a wealth of knowledge by interacting with my classmates, but the constructive criticisms and thought provoking questions that arose from the discussion questions, proved to be well worth the time. I actually learned many things that went well beyond the syllabus.

I have decided (and have already implemented) that providing the students with an open and/or private discussion platform during the semester is truly the way to go! There are lessons to be learned from group projects and peer evaluations!

In summary, this online course is an excellent start for anyone interested in online teaching and learning. I will sit back now for just a little bit, and enjoy the fruits of my labor! Now that I have a different view of pedagogy, learning theories, learning styles, and technology, I will begin to construct something beautiful!

Learning is lifelong....Self Selected Blog #2

Here I am again, reflecting on what I have learned. Learning is lifelong and I must say, I have already learned a tremendous amount of information regarding online teaching. It is truly an asset to have this knowledge! I have already begun to incorporate techniques into my courses.

Socrates questioned everything and everyone he came in contact with. It has been said that through this type of inquiry, the truth can be found. Like Socrates, I too recognize my own ignorance.

As a result of this course, at least up to this point, I have learned that in order to be an effective educator, there are many facets that must be understood. The learner, technology, the environment, the stage, learning styles, and learning theories….AHH…learning theories did you say? I am not quite sure why this particular topic was a struggle for me, but I think I have narrowed it down.

As I went back and re-read the assignment and associated readings, it started to become clearer. After receiving great feedback from my instructors and other students in the class, it was identified that I was mixing two concepts: Learning Theories and Learning Styles. So, what I believe was happening, was that I was so comfortable with mastering learning styles, that I did not want to leave it behind (smile).

I challenged myself to gain a deeper understanding of the learning theories and was surprised at what I found. I happened upon this wonderful website that basically described each type of learning theory and how it effects curriculum development. http://www.learning-theories.com/

Not only did I gain a better understanding, but I was also able to identify with one of the theorist: Jean Lave, who has been given credit for the “situated learning theory”. As a nursing instructor, this theory closely relates to how I have to deliver the content of the course in order for students to gain a meaningful knowledge base to function in the medical arena. I am very confident that my final blog posting will be just as exciting as this one… so stay tuned!