“What do you know now that you did not know before?”

I know how important it is to be more learner centered in my courses, especially as I begin to teach courses online.  Garrison Anderson, Rourke and Archer stated that effective online courses have “social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence.” (Pickett) 

“How are you applying what you have learned so far to your own course?”

I’ve applied what I’ve learned so far to get a better focus on how to present a class for the first time in an online format.  I must focus on facilitating discourse through finding a good balance in discussion to not only facilitate it, but continue the discussions effectively.  When students make points, I need to encourage them that they are doing well and also probe further.  And by “encouraging, acknowledging, and reinforcing student contributions” (Pickett), I will enable the students to provide the teaching presence to fill in the gaps that I can’t.

“What decisions have you made about how you present yourself, your content, how you will engage and interact with your students, and assess them in your own online course?”

From Alex’s presentation, I realized that class community is the key to making this course effective.  I will need to develop a sense of trust and group identity through using various types of discussions.  Looking at some of her suggestions, and my own experience from ETAP 687, I realize a good balance of faculty and peer evaluation is important to engage the students to do their very best.

“Who are you and why are you that way as an educator and a learner?”

I am an asynchronous learner, and I think that it took taking this class to realize that.  When I am motivated to do something, there is no stopping me.  However, when I don’t feel like writing, there is no “starting” me.  This learning method I uses enables me “to create a schedule that works for me, not for others. This personal attention gives you the flexibility to include the things that are most important to me.” (Dartmouth).  And in turn, I need to realize that in order to develop an effective course, I need to realize students as well also operate on work schedules that work best for them.

Robert (4)

Sources.

Dartmouth.  Managing Your Time.  Retreived July 15, 2008 from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/time.html

Pickett, Alexandra.  Keys to success: Are you ready to develop an online course?.  Retrieved July 14, 2008 from http://ualbany.mrooms.net/mod/resource/view.php?id=410