Learning Experience
Overwhelming, frustrating, enlightening, fun, packed with learning, and totally worth the journey. . . all of these words and phrases describe the learning process that I have encountered in IT 648. I have definitely met with obstacles, especially technical difficulties, as I learned to use the digital components of instruction; however, I feel that I have collected many tools which will make me a better designer and instructor. One important aspect that I have learned from this class is that collaboration in groups is definitely worth assigning in e-learning situations. Completing work as an individual in the virtual classroom is indeed easier, but I would not trade the interaction that I have had with my group even though the partnership was difficult at times.
Weaknesses and Strengths
My weakness is definitely in the technical area. Many times, I do not know how to complete simple tasks. For instance, I recently had to learn to create a group email. This is a simple task; however, it is one that I had never done. I had never blogged until this class. I had never created a google site until this class. I had never created a video or posted to youtube. While my weakness is my technical level of proficiency, I am growing by leaps and bounds.
My strength is that I have a vision for instructional design. I have a strong understanding and background in curriculum and teaching strategies. I find that I can relate these strengths to the concept of design and technology. In fact, as soon as I figured out how to do a google site for my ClassPager tutorial, I began a class website for next year. I also consider my enthusiasm a strength. I can hardly wait to try out my tool chest of communication tools on my future students.
Interaction
The strongest element of this course has been the building block of collaboration. The course instructor has built the course so that the individual has to learn about communication in the virtual world and about communication tools, but he/she also has to share his/her knowledge and learn from others. We have been expected to interact as a group with meaningful activities concerning the different tools. We learned to write a project report independently and then combine our parts into a group effort. We have been responsible for blogging and responding to each other’s blogs. I can really say that I have enjoyed every minute of working as a group and have learned to collaborate online.
Communication Tools
We have learned to use an array of tools in this class. We have learned to use email in the traditional sense and to use voice email. Voice email can add a personal note with the formal communication or notes listed in the body and the voice message attached adding the human factor. Discussion board has been used in Blackboard. One of my group members (Felecia) chose to use Proboard which allowed her to post threads for discussion purposes. I will use this tool over the summer to touch base with my students and let them respond to summer reading.
Chat rooms were also used in this class as we used this element in Blackboard Collaborate along with the audio feature. One of my group members studied Groupboard which is a whiteboard with chat and drawing features. One may also import files and videos to this board. I plan to use this tool next year as a homework help site. I will give students who can peer tutor extra credit to go out and help those who are having trouble. Voice board gave us a chance to actually hear each other’s voices. I would use this tool with students who seem to need to hear another person’s comments or who learn better in the auditory mode. Live Classroom provides the instructor and students a chance to meet synchronously. Sometimes this is necessary to make sure that everyone is on the same page or to stress a certain part of the course. Finally, our blogs on Weebly.com were a highlight of the course to me. I thoroughly enjoyed expressing my opinions and learning during the semester. I enjoyed even more hearing the opinions and wisdom of my classmates. Blogging also led to bonding between the members of the class. This was my favorite tool. Each type of tool has pros and cons. The following table will show the strengths and weaknesses of each type of tool.
Email
Pros
Pros
Cons
Pros
Pros
Pros
Group Work
I felt the strongest element of this course was the group project work. We worked well together even when time issues and technical difficulties seemed to plague our process. We are better practitioners for having worked with each other. I want to thank Felecia, Jessica, Barrett, and Kenny for walking beside me each step of the way and for answering my questions when I was floundering.
Future Considerations
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course experience. My only future recommendation would be to keep the assignments requiring group collaboration. I would also suggest that the instructor keep adding to the communication tools page. It is a great resource for practitioners.
ClassPager Site
Overwhelming, frustrating, enlightening, fun, packed with learning, and totally worth the journey. . . all of these words and phrases describe the learning process that I have encountered in IT 648. I have definitely met with obstacles, especially technical difficulties, as I learned to use the digital components of instruction; however, I feel that I have collected many tools which will make me a better designer and instructor. One important aspect that I have learned from this class is that collaboration in groups is definitely worth assigning in e-learning situations. Completing work as an individual in the virtual classroom is indeed easier, but I would not trade the interaction that I have had with my group even though the partnership was difficult at times.
Weaknesses and Strengths
My weakness is definitely in the technical area. Many times, I do not know how to complete simple tasks. For instance, I recently had to learn to create a group email. This is a simple task; however, it is one that I had never done. I had never blogged until this class. I had never created a google site until this class. I had never created a video or posted to youtube. While my weakness is my technical level of proficiency, I am growing by leaps and bounds.
My strength is that I have a vision for instructional design. I have a strong understanding and background in curriculum and teaching strategies. I find that I can relate these strengths to the concept of design and technology. In fact, as soon as I figured out how to do a google site for my ClassPager tutorial, I began a class website for next year. I also consider my enthusiasm a strength. I can hardly wait to try out my tool chest of communication tools on my future students.
Interaction
The strongest element of this course has been the building block of collaboration. The course instructor has built the course so that the individual has to learn about communication in the virtual world and about communication tools, but he/she also has to share his/her knowledge and learn from others. We have been expected to interact as a group with meaningful activities concerning the different tools. We learned to write a project report independently and then combine our parts into a group effort. We have been responsible for blogging and responding to each other’s blogs. I can really say that I have enjoyed every minute of working as a group and have learned to collaborate online.
Communication Tools
We have learned to use an array of tools in this class. We have learned to use email in the traditional sense and to use voice email. Voice email can add a personal note with the formal communication or notes listed in the body and the voice message attached adding the human factor. Discussion board has been used in Blackboard. One of my group members (Felecia) chose to use Proboard which allowed her to post threads for discussion purposes. I will use this tool over the summer to touch base with my students and let them respond to summer reading.
Chat rooms were also used in this class as we used this element in Blackboard Collaborate along with the audio feature. One of my group members studied Groupboard which is a whiteboard with chat and drawing features. One may also import files and videos to this board. I plan to use this tool next year as a homework help site. I will give students who can peer tutor extra credit to go out and help those who are having trouble. Voice board gave us a chance to actually hear each other’s voices. I would use this tool with students who seem to need to hear another person’s comments or who learn better in the auditory mode. Live Classroom provides the instructor and students a chance to meet synchronously. Sometimes this is necessary to make sure that everyone is on the same page or to stress a certain part of the course. Finally, our blogs on Weebly.com were a highlight of the course to me. I thoroughly enjoyed expressing my opinions and learning during the semester. I enjoyed even more hearing the opinions and wisdom of my classmates. Blogging also led to bonding between the members of the class. This was my favorite tool. Each type of tool has pros and cons. The following table will show the strengths and weaknesses of each type of tool.
Pros
- free
- easy
- flexibility of time in sending and answering
- quickness of delivery
- Must know email address which some people change quite often
- SPAM
- must wait on answer
Pros
- flexibility of asynchronous learning
- building of community through response to other students’ posts
- allows the student to respond in a non-threatening atmosphere
- monopolized threads
- lack of depth of some replies
- digital inequality
Cons
- instant communication
- anonymity (uninhibitedness)
- safety issues
- anonymity (never sure with whom one is chatting)
Pros
- can be used to convey info to those with negligible reading/ writing skills
- adds a personal touch
- hearing issues
- poor speaking voices
- background noise
Pros
- platform for students to obtain instruction from the professor or teacher
- adds structure to the class
- makes the teacher accessible
- cuts down on flexibility for the asynchronous learner
Pros
- easy
- accessible
- sense of community
- requires regular updates
- requires etiquette in dealing with people
Group Work
I felt the strongest element of this course was the group project work. We worked well together even when time issues and technical difficulties seemed to plague our process. We are better practitioners for having worked with each other. I want to thank Felecia, Jessica, Barrett, and Kenny for walking beside me each step of the way and for answering my questions when I was floundering.
Future Considerations
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course experience. My only future recommendation would be to keep the assignments requiring group collaboration. I would also suggest that the instructor keep adding to the communication tools page. It is a great resource for practitioners.
ClassPager Site
final_course_reflection.docx |