What I have learned So Far

What I Have Learned So Far

I have been thinking about what I have learned so far. We started with introductions and reading several articles. We learned terms such as synchronous conferencing, and LMS, and incorporating them into classes. I liked when we spoke to various people on the chat function in Blackboard, because we could put a voice to the name. Synchronous conferencing allows people to chat in real time without anyone having to travel. An LMS or Learning Management System like Blackboard is used deliver educational information to students via the internet. For me, I have looked at ways I can improve my strategies for performance and one of them is to get started early in the week. I usually look at each module early on, including watching videos and reading. I make notes on when assignments are due and what I need to include. I also think of personal experiences that relate to that assignment and what I did and could have done. We also discussed the differences between fully online, and web-enhanced hybrid.

Since I started school in the Fall of 2016 I have taken both hybrid and fully online, and they are both similar and yet different. The hybrid classes I have taken involved classes meeting in person, usually group assignments or presentations. We still did discussion posts as well (though not always every week). A good suggestion for web-enhancing a current class is to add videos and reading material to the class, and then discussion posts on the topic. This is different than in person because while commenting is possible, online requires more thinking and writing it down. I must mention that I took one class fully in person and even that class has material online, such as a test study guide and the weekly presentations. For me, I like classes where there is some online interaction because I like doing things at my own time and pace. For a class I would design, I would do what many of my professors did and have them do assignments step by step. I might start out by having them create an outline of their project, and them build on it. I would give them feedback on what they could improve. Most classes can be created online, and as technology advances there will be more. Some classes such as public speaking or physics could be created online but might work better in person, depending on the person and their strengths.

Thinking of strengths makes me think of the article “Campfires in Cyberspace”, which explains four types of learning spaces: campfires, life, caves and watering holes. Campfire is explained as sharing advice, life is testing ideas, caves look at things more detailed and watering holes are where people share experiences. Campfires remind me of instructors sharing their experience with students to help them. Life is where the instructor might ask us to create a project for example to learn. Caves are more detailed so might be along the lines of doing research. Watering holes remind me of discussion posts. I then took the VARK test, which shows the learning styles we favor, such as seeing (Visual), hearing (Aural) Read/Write, and doing (Kinesthetic). I was found that in general I am pretty good in every category, though I tend to use read/write the most. A professor needs to be aware of each student’s learning styles and create lesson plans to appeal to everyone, like putting a lesson in a PowerPoint, creating a video, even putting together a podcast, or having them write a paper on the subject. 

One of the ways we learned the different styles was by working together as a group. It is important to make sure everyone is on the same page and to delegate duties as needed. Our group created a lesson on the Civil Rights Movement and we each took a different part, such as speaking about songs or books, and yet another person posted videos of what people did. It helped all of us see the different styles while researching. There are also teaching styles where each teacher has a way to teach. There are five major ways of teaching: expert, formal authority, personal model, facilitator and delegator, but most teachers use a combination of these. An expert is someone who knows the topic. Formal authority tends to be rigid and believes one way only. Personal model likes to demonstrate the topic. A facilitator is more of a coach, and expects the students to work on their own, but answers questions. Delegator is like more of a spectator.
When I taught religious education, I used the personal model because I wanted my students to see me as the way to live. The teaching style to me varies depending on the students and the class. For example, an entry level class would require an expert, but a graduate student close to finishing would work better with a facilitator or a delegator, or even a personal model. When I spoke to my friend about online teaching he told me that both the learning styles and teaching styles vary in online classes because each subject is different, and some classes are better equipped for online. One of the biggest things I gathered from him was a teacher needs to be prepared for everything and to develop programs to help all kinds of students.

To sum it all up, an online teacher needs to understand the topic and create a class that will be easily understood for each student. They need to start slowly and build up as the student learns. They need to understand that there are challenges with online classes and that some classes will do better as hybrid. They need to learn all the technologies, including videos, conferencing, and must realize that each student has a different way of learning. Likewise, the teacher has a different way of teaching and it may vary based on the class or students. As a student, and as a teacher I need to identify my strengths and use those to my advantages. I also need to look at my weaknesses and work on improving them in a way that is beneficial.
I want to seek out additional people who have been successful in online teaching I hope to keep learning as that will make me more successful in the long run. I do not really have a specific class in mind I want to develop but like the idea of both hybrid and fully online. I think these vary based on what student’s want, and what works online. I like looking at the various learning theories such as constructivism behaviorism, and cognitivism to see how I can develop classes. I personally would like to develop a writing class for online and for the class would include videos, assignments to write, and I would like to have an expert writer talk to the class using synchronous conferencing. It will require me to learn more about online teaching and keeping up with emerging trends in technology, but it will be worth it if the class is successful. I also want to be a more active teacher who has many options for learning and making it more teacher led, especially in the beginning classes. I can be more passive as I go on. Finally, I should mention that being an online teacher is more than just a teacher. I must be available more often than regular teachers, as class is a 24 hour a day thing and I want my students to feel comfortable contacting me.

Bibliography
Grasha, A. F. (1994). A Matter of Style: The Teacher as Expert, Formal Authority, Personal Model, Facilitator, and Delegator. College Teaching, 142-149
VARK. (n.d.). Retrieved from VARK: http://vark-learn.com/ 
Thornburg, David d. Ph.D. (2007). Campfires in cyberspace:  Primodial Metaphors for Learning in the 21st Century [PDF]. Retrieved from http://tcpd.org/Thornburg/Handouts/Campfires.pdf.