Reflections on Online-Teaching and Learning

mod 5 midway

I am in a good place for completing my course this week.  I have embraced the mantra, “make it pretty after.”  I really feel that the most signifacnt part of what I still need to do is to “make it pretty.”  I need to proofread and make some more things congruent.  I need to play with some different font colors and sizes, and also need to add some spacing especially in my assessment assignments.  I need to “beef up” some of my information documents and instruction pages.  I have also learned to be patient with myself.  I can’t expect to use exciting tools like VoiceThreads, if I do not even know how to use them.  Alex has given me some instructions and I might try to apply them this week-and I mighy not.  I like the simplicity of my design as a starter and novice.  I can’t believe how far I’ve come.  So, I guess that’s the most suprising thing that i have learned.  I can do this tech. stuff.  well, another thing that strikes me as suprising is that this course has helped me to become a better f2f teacher.  i can no longer hide behind my fear for interaction in the f2f class.  i wish I really could pilot my discussion forum in my class.  i suppose i can.   How would I do that and ensure that all students participate?  i am actualy at a professional development conference right know about creating school community and structures.  maybe, i’ll find some answers.  i fell much mre confident that i can provide elements of social, cognitive, and teaching presene in my class.  I believe I did.  I think my course feels warm and inviting, we will be interacting a lot.  The teaching presence part has come a long way.  My content is there but, I have really opted to be more traditional by having the students read a text.  i do not feel like a built enough inquiry into my class. i am able to do that much better in my f2f but still find my extreme novice status in an online environment hindering.