Introduction To online teaching

Introduction To Online Teaching

I recently decided to work on the certificate in online teaching, which made me think about my views on online teaching.  I have been taking online classes since 2002, but they were more primitive. The "online" class involved the teacher emailing me assignments, them me completing them and emailing. For my first master's degree I was required to take a class on emerging technologies and part of the class involved posting several times on a message board with our sister class in Australia. That was interesting to see comments from Australians and learning that we all wanted the same things, including job opportunities. I assumed I was done with online classes when I graduated in 2004, but in 2011 my library signed up for a program called Universal Class that offered noncredit online classes. The site is accessed here: www.universalclass.com. In each lesson there are assignments, such as writing or taking tests. I love taking these classes because they give me a chance to independently study new programs in a way that works around my schedule, and this is important to me.

I feel  these classes helped me when I returned to school in 2016. I had a choice between online and in class options but for most classes I chose online. I liked the freedom to do them when I had the free time and to work independently for the most part. I was afraid because Blackboard is different than what online was in 2002 but found I liked it better. For one thing, between 2004 (when I graduated), and 2016 (when I returned to school) the world has changed. Social media was just starting to explode in 2004 but was still new. These new technologies have changed the way we see the world and the professors responded by giving students more options for learning and teaching, including watching videos to learn new skills.  Now, instead of just emailing a professor, the professor often creates lesson plans every week and these might include videos, discussion board and many interactive options not available last time I was in school.

There are many reasons I want to be an online teacher. First, I  love doing things online. I am constantly taking online classes myself to learn new skills, such as statistics, psychology, and science. I am proud that I keep my mind occupied by taking classes just for fun. Second, I want to be an online teacher because I love the flexibility of online. With online classes, you can sit down at any time to write papers or take tests. If one feels like studying at 3 am in the morning, this is a possibility. This is not possible with traditional classes. Third, because this is the way of the future. Schools will continue to add online classes because it works for students, which means more working adults will be able to take classes, and schools can add more programs. Finally, I am a big fan of technology in general. As someone who has a strong background in video editing, writing, and computer skills this is perfect for someone like me. I am constantly using technology to create projects, often for fun. I like the fact that people who learn by seeing and those who learn by doing will both be able to learn, and they can go back to the video or program in the event they are stuck on something.

One of the questions I consider is "will online work for everyone?" The answer to that is no, not everyone can handle online classes. For example, someone who does not have basic internet skills would not be a good candidate for an online class. It is not a good idea for people who cannot keep up with technology as it changes often. It is also not recommended for someone who has a problem with time management, as online teaching requires constant work, whether it is grading papers, developing a new lesson, or meeting schedule demands. I would also add that those who do not have an online presence might struggle because it really involves socializing with people one has never met, and might never meet, but they are the students and the classmates of the class. People must be open minded about other cultures as they may encounter people from different societies who look at things differently.

I have taken over one hundred online classes, so my understanding of online is this: first, the student needs to realize they will be online often, preferably at least 8-10 hours a week, or longer. I am constantly checking in because things change often. Second, it requires more time than traditional classes. When I enroll in online classes, I was often required to post once a week in addition to tests or reading. Third, the student must be independent, as the instructor is not front of them. This might be great, but it can be a disadvantage as some students work better with the instructor helping them in person. It should also be mentioned that with online classes, one needs to remember netiquette. Netiquette is important because it is a way to be polite and nice online. While a student might be having a horrible day, and say something in person, they can often apologize. With online classes, what they said is there forever. Online is unlike traditional classes because traditional classes end once the student leaves (except for homework) but online never really ends.

My expectation for this class is that I can use many skills I normally use in a way that is productive. I am technological savvy, and I am looking forward to using my skills such as video production or website design. I am also looking forward to seeing the process by which instructors create programs and how students relate to them. I suspect I will learn something about myself that I never saw coming. While I have developed training programs, I did not always see the results. I want to see the effectiveness of the classes and whether they are truly helping people learn. It is going to be a great learning experience for me and it will in turn make me a better teacher.  I really love helping people learn skills because I feel I have become proficient in technology for a reason and it is my job to share with others, so they will have more productive lives in the workforce and in their life. I believe when people have the skills, it helps society become a better place for everyone.