Flight Path

Here’s some personal expectations for my ETEC565A Learning Journey

What I’m interested in and hope to achieve in ETEC565A:

• Understanding and matching student learning needs with technology.
• Discovering and implementing improved on-line assessment techniques.
• Understanding the advantages/disadvantages of various e-learning tools (including LMS’s, web-conferencing, and social networking tools), and how to select the most appropriate one’s based on a variety of student/learning contexts.
• Learning how to engage and interest others in learning technologies ( student, faculty and admin.)
• Learning how to better articulate these needs to administrative decision makers within my institution.

Some Past  Frustrations and Concerns

Over the years I’ve become quite frustrated with administrative policies and procedures that hinder and generally prompt many teachers to disengage from creative and spontaneous initiatives that require some level of institutional support.

For example, part of my curriculum consulting role is to promote the use of technology and assist other faculty in embracing it, yet, the college I work for allows us VERY little flexibility to try new things. Our ability to download and experiment with new software (a great way of learning) is not allowed. Requests to install software must be made formally, take a long time, and usually requires substantial explanation. Over the year’s a number of highly motivated colleagues have simply given up trying to innovate. At the same time, the college seems angry that instructors do not seem interested is getting curriculum on-line. I wonder how prevalent this issue is and would like to hear from other with shared experiences or suggestions.

Bates and Pooles (2004),  discuss the importance of addressing organizational issues. I see this as a key challenge.

Summary

I’m looking forward to both the theory and hands on opportunities in the course. I welcome the spontaneous and incidental learning that occurs in tandem with stated course outcomes. These are often the richest and most rewarding.

I also look forward to learning from and with my classmates!

Glenn