March 30, 2010
One of the posting that I had commented on for week 9 was the issue of whether or not students with high social presence were less or more formal in their discussions. The Shih and Swan article commented that students with high social presence were less formal. I pondered back through my postings to determine if I have become more or less formal throughout time. As I was reading back through my postings from the start of the class I was unable to determine if I was truly more formal than I am at this point. Some of the students in the discussion noted that they thought many ingredients contributed to the formality of the postings. I would have to agree that the formality seems to depend on the topic or issue that I am discussing. I tend to be more formal for the discussions that are more formal in nature and less formal for those discussions that require less formalities (i.e., metaphor discussion = less formality). Many of the readings thus far are heavily promoting the concepts of being present in courses. I remember taking online courses before the heavy expansion (or during the heavy expansion in 2003-2004 time frame) into online learning, and I remember that the classes were all taught in a strictly asynchronous fashion and many times the instructor would take days to a week to respond to questions. It is impressive to reflect back to those times and courses and compare with the courses that I am taking now. The concept of being present and prompt did not exist in those courses and often times isolation was an inadvertent outcome. Now the courses that I take are rapid in response and the social atmosphere is far larger. One concept that I think would be beneficial for distance education classrooms and would help foster social presence would be to have smaller groups of people that are assigned to a study group with an area to study such as study group area that a couple of students can grow and work with each other and answer each others questions.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Metaphor - Week 8
March 22, 2010
The metaphor I used for my online learning experience was that it is similar to an ocean. This metaphor made me reflect on what my experience has been like thus far and how it has compared to my undergraduate experience (my undergraduate experience was face-to-face). I have had many ups and downs in my online learning and have had times where I feel like I am learning a lot, followed by times where I feel like I am learning little. The metaphor that I used for my online learning experience was that it has been similar to an ocean. Many times I feel like I am trying to keep up with the activities and the intellectual discussions, and other times I feel like I am ahead in the activities. The metaphor resembles the rough waters and calm waters; similar, to the busy times of being a full time worker and a learner and the calm times. I suppose learning is never suppose to be extremely comfortable as it is moving outside of my box and this is why it is similar to an ocean with water moving constantly in different directions and at different speeds. The metaphor exercise was interesting as it was educational to compare my learning to another aspect of life. Sometimes, when you take a step back and compare your learning to another aspect of life you realize what kind of a learner and what experiences as a learner you go through. This will be valuable for me in the future as I will be able to analyze my learning through metaphors.
The metaphor I used for my online learning experience was that it is similar to an ocean. This metaphor made me reflect on what my experience has been like thus far and how it has compared to my undergraduate experience (my undergraduate experience was face-to-face). I have had many ups and downs in my online learning and have had times where I feel like I am learning a lot, followed by times where I feel like I am learning little. The metaphor that I used for my online learning experience was that it has been similar to an ocean. Many times I feel like I am trying to keep up with the activities and the intellectual discussions, and other times I feel like I am ahead in the activities. The metaphor resembles the rough waters and calm waters; similar, to the busy times of being a full time worker and a learner and the calm times. I suppose learning is never suppose to be extremely comfortable as it is moving outside of my box and this is why it is similar to an ocean with water moving constantly in different directions and at different speeds. The metaphor exercise was interesting as it was educational to compare my learning to another aspect of life. Sometimes, when you take a step back and compare your learning to another aspect of life you realize what kind of a learner and what experiences as a learner you go through. This will be valuable for me in the future as I will be able to analyze my learning through metaphors.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Analytical writings - Week 7
March 14, 2010
The most uncomfortable aspect of this course thus far is reflecting on my learning. The learning journal and the papers have many portions that are analytical and I am finding that I am more of a descriptive person. I have been challenged to be more analytical in my writings through projects (e. g., analytical annotated bibliography and the learning journal) and this has helped some. I am struggling to let go of the descriptive nature and be more analytical in my writings. On the other hand, reading theories has become easier for me, and I feel like I am able to grasp what the authors are saying; more so now, than when the course started. I still need to use the infamous dictionary.com to fully handle the wording in the readings; however, now I can survive without if need be.
I never thought about the implications of a bad course design. In the readings, the discussion revolved around the idea that instruction can have major consequences if not fully planned and reflected on. It will be important as a future practitioner that I truly understand the implications of course design.
The most uncomfortable aspect of this course thus far is reflecting on my learning. The learning journal and the papers have many portions that are analytical and I am finding that I am more of a descriptive person. I have been challenged to be more analytical in my writings through projects (e. g., analytical annotated bibliography and the learning journal) and this has helped some. I am struggling to let go of the descriptive nature and be more analytical in my writings. On the other hand, reading theories has become easier for me, and I feel like I am able to grasp what the authors are saying; more so now, than when the course started. I still need to use the infamous dictionary.com to fully handle the wording in the readings; however, now I can survive without if need be.
I never thought about the implications of a bad course design. In the readings, the discussion revolved around the idea that instruction can have major consequences if not fully planned and reflected on. It will be important as a future practitioner that I truly understand the implications of course design.
Friday, March 5, 2010
technology in design - Week 6
March 9, 2010
The Jon Dron article has made me reflect more in-depth about the use of technology in design of online courses. The use of technology is discussed by Jon Dron as being well organized; however, course designers need to still maintain effective learning environments. I feel that I am more of a technology follower and forget that technology is not a means to perfection, by this I mean that technology is not going to correct mistakes made in course design and delivery. Technology tends to create a craze around it and it will be important in my future distance education endeavors that I remember that the correct technology will need to be used in the delivery and design of courses. The article will have a major impact on my studies as I tend to become overexcited about the use of technology and all that it will bring to distance education and I forget the down side. I wonder about the future of distance education and how instructors will maintain the new technologies and pedagogy.
The Jon Dron article has made me reflect more in-depth about the use of technology in design of online courses. The use of technology is discussed by Jon Dron as being well organized; however, course designers need to still maintain effective learning environments. I feel that I am more of a technology follower and forget that technology is not a means to perfection, by this I mean that technology is not going to correct mistakes made in course design and delivery. Technology tends to create a craze around it and it will be important in my future distance education endeavors that I remember that the correct technology will need to be used in the delivery and design of courses. The article will have a major impact on my studies as I tend to become overexcited about the use of technology and all that it will bring to distance education and I forget the down side. I wonder about the future of distance education and how instructors will maintain the new technologies and pedagogy.
Facilitation versus teacher - week 5
March 2, 2010
The week 5 readings allowed me to discover and reflect on many of the issues that surround traditional teaching and the transformation into distance education facilitation. The thought of a teacher becoming a facilitator is a bit uncomfortable at first thought; however, after further reflections on what the role of the instructor is, this is the best transformation. At this point in the class I am becoming comfortable with many of the concepts of the course including the learner-centered design of distance education, as previously I was extremely uncomfortable with the concepts as they seemed to focus on each individual learner as to cater to them. However, the idea of focusing on the learning of each learner seems to be a bit more comforting. The theories of the course are becoming a bit easier to read, as I feel it is something that takes practice. The reflection portion of the course is still something that I am continuing to have troubles with and hope to become a bit better at it.
The week 5 readings allowed me to discover and reflect on many of the issues that surround traditional teaching and the transformation into distance education facilitation. The thought of a teacher becoming a facilitator is a bit uncomfortable at first thought; however, after further reflections on what the role of the instructor is, this is the best transformation. At this point in the class I am becoming comfortable with many of the concepts of the course including the learner-centered design of distance education, as previously I was extremely uncomfortable with the concepts as they seemed to focus on each individual learner as to cater to them. However, the idea of focusing on the learning of each learner seems to be a bit more comforting. The theories of the course are becoming a bit easier to read, as I feel it is something that takes practice. The reflection portion of the course is still something that I am continuing to have troubles with and hope to become a bit better at it.
Building knowledge - week 4
February 23, 2010
In week four, more so than any other week, I feel that I am building on my pre-existing knowledge. I have struggled to accept new knowledge and build upon what I have previously learned. The uncomfortable factor in the building of new learning is that I feel like I am replacing my learning more so than building on it. The reading from Mayes this week helped me understand that it is not replacing older knowledge when learning new knowledge; rather, it is about building on what I already know and adding more concrete material to it. Also, Mayes discusses the fact that we learn best what we are most interested in. This makes me reflect on when I was a little kid and I struggled to have the desire to read and one of my teachers told me that I should read what I was interested in. After, I started to read what I was interested in the teacher was amazed that I was able to stay further and further ahead of the required reading assignments for the class. This just reinforces how important it is to focus and learn what is truly interesting to me. At this point I am full force ahead, and still constantly switching between the reading and dictionary.com.
In week four, more so than any other week, I feel that I am building on my pre-existing knowledge. I have struggled to accept new knowledge and build upon what I have previously learned. The uncomfortable factor in the building of new learning is that I feel like I am replacing my learning more so than building on it. The reading from Mayes this week helped me understand that it is not replacing older knowledge when learning new knowledge; rather, it is about building on what I already know and adding more concrete material to it. Also, Mayes discusses the fact that we learn best what we are most interested in. This makes me reflect on when I was a little kid and I struggled to have the desire to read and one of my teachers told me that I should read what I was interested in. After, I started to read what I was interested in the teacher was amazed that I was able to stay further and further ahead of the required reading assignments for the class. This just reinforces how important it is to focus and learn what is truly interesting to me. At this point I am full force ahead, and still constantly switching between the reading and dictionary.com.
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