3.3 Reflection: Using Web 2.0 Tools

I use web 2.0 tools daily for my work life and personal life. I am no longer in the classroom, but can see a huge potential for the use of these tools. I used to do a presentation all over the world called "Web 2.0 Whirlwind" where I would share a ton of different tools and an example of how each one can be used for learning. I had created a wiki awhile back for this presentation to share with teachers all over at http://aliooplv.pbworks.com/w/page/12103173/FrontPage. It needs a lot of updating, but people still share new sites as they learn about them here. I believe any web 2.0 tool could be used for learning in some way. It just takes some creativity in thinking of ways to use them but there is potential for all of them in learning. I believe kids are using the Internet and these tools in their daily lives, they just need help in how to use them to learn and to be productive with them. I think this was a great unit. I will have to go back and watch the videos when I get back home and have bandwidth that will allow me to see them, but the projects looked interesting in the PBL section and it was fun to explore new tools that I wasn't previously aware of and got to meet some interesting people during the group project. Thank you!!

2.2 Reflection: Methodologies of the Online Instructor

This reflection is a little difficult for me to do as I am no longer teaching in a face to face or online course. However, I have taught in both environments and I am happy that this class has a large focus on the communication. This is the key to teaching online and is a big skill shift from the face-to-face to online classroom as it requires a new set of skills.

Teachers now have many more tools to use for communication than they did when I taught online and are more accessible. It is key for a teacher to provide constant communication throughout the class. The students need to feel like there is someone on the other end of the computer that is there to help them. If the teacher is unresponsive, it will be difficult for the student to feel motivated to complete the course.

Just as a side note, on page 5 of the content, it says that "The technology in a LMS is not difficult to use when coupled with training." I would stay away from saying it is not difficult to use as I have seen several people who have found LMS' difficult to use. While they probably won't be the most successful online teacher, this may scare away some teachers from wanting to be involved in teaching online. I think this is a great example of communication. It is important to be very clear and unassuming in all text, video, etc. in an online class as the student can't always see your expressions or hear the tone of your voice when you are explaining something.

1.2 Reflection: Personal Learning Goal

The online learning assessment I took this week said that I was 80% prepared to take an online course and I think that is pretty accurate. My biggest issues with online learning are that I am a procrastinator and have an extremely crazy schedule for work. I never know where I am going to be from day to day and while I think I will have plenty of time to work on this course or other work, while traveling the days seem to fill up very quickly and leave no time for sleep, let alone working on an online course.

However, I have taken and taught online courses in the past and have been very successful. I find that when I have someone pushing me, or checking in on me, I tend to do much better. Otherwise, it is very easy to forget about the course and do other things. (So please keep me in line and don't let me get behind as I will procrastinate and put things off until the very last minute! :))

My main goal for this course is to evaluate the content. iNACOL has been a part of the development of the course and our standards for Quality Online Teaching and Courses were used to develop it, so I want to make sure it is a quality course and will help prepare teachers to teach in these new learning environments. I want to make sure we are pushing the teachers and leading by example in the way we are teaching online.

I am very excited to take this course and look forward to seeing how it turned out. Thank you for the opportunity!