This class has been a mixed bag for me. As an artist, I found that a ying-yang symbols epitomized my feeling about the class.
On one side, I felt that the content of the class was incredibly worthwhile and relevant. Using technology in your class will soon become an unavoidable current running through education. Teachers who are versed in technology will have an easier time reaching students who are 'digital natives'. All the various tools we were exposed to (Web 2.0, Skype, Blogging, etc.) are incredibly valuable and worthwhile to have in the classroom. Google reader, gmail, google docs, and social bookmarking all make our jobs as teachers who use technology easier and more efficient. Students will also benefit from using this technology, as the 'real world' workplace is all rife with it. I have already put some of these digital devices and web 2.0 into my classes and have plans to add more in the future.
Now for the other side. I really miss the human connection involved with classroom teaching. With two skype call as the only real human connections in the class, I really felt 'out of touch' with my classmates and with some of the cotent as well. I longed to sit and chat with someone about the content. Writing a blog comment really is quite pale, ineffective, and a weak substitute for sitting in a classroom listening, watching, reflecting and doing. For me, the real learning only took place when I was creating the podcast and the final project. During these times, I was 'teaching' either myself or someone else. Teaching, as we know from a variety of research, is the best way to learn. Both of these technologies I will keep doing as I teach art and hopefully technology some day in the future.
As this was my first 100% online class, I am in new territory. As a learner, I found it difficult to stay motivated when I knew there was no 'class' to go to. In addition, I am not really sure what my grade will be. Is completing the assignment enough to get the grade? Does the quality matter? Does the content matter? How do these get included in the grade? Am I reading too far into things? Is there a rubric for blog posts and comments?
I really did value the class and the content in it. I did have a hard time with the lack of human connection which unfortunately is inherent in a 100% online class. This is where the balance of the yin-yang comes into play. The content far outweighed what I found to be difficult and challenging.
Yours,
Aaron
Aaron - I feel your disconnect as well. Taking a course online without face to face interaction at all is very lonely and does lend itself to lack of initiative at times. I feel the same exact way as the teacher of the class. I do think there is something to the class makeup and how involved each other are in the course. There is nothing to say that you the student can't skype with each other without my direction. I think that is part of the "lesson". It is all about creating that PLN and being lucky enough to have students in the course who are willing to go out on the limb to work closely together to accomplish the tasks. I try to create a sense of community, but it is difficult, as each of you are very different in many ways (technologically as well as in each of your personal lives).
ReplyDeleteAs far as the grading requirements, all of that information was posted to the wiki from the first week under assessments and requirements (explaining what I am looking for in each of the different tasks). There is also a class blog rubric too out there that is a line by itself on the front side of the wiki. I think by grading this course, it is really about what you the learner has gotten from it and how you learned something each week through your blog postings. Had you made a connection? Yes, the doing it yourself method of learning the podcast and the other "tasks" was meant to be a personal exploration into how this Web2.0 stuff really works. If I was to just tell you how to do it, then I would not be doing any of you a service. It think by doing is more effective. I did put a million resources out there on the wiki page for guidance and assistance, but again, it is how each of you decided to use them.
I appreciate your thoughts about the course and will take them into consideration going forward when teaching it this summer.