I have learned that I didn’t create a Moodle like expected. I guess I was under a different impression of its purpose than intended so I have a lot of re-jigging to do. That being said, the plan for my Moodle was to be more of a place to learn about iPads and how to bring them into the classroom, a tutorial so to speak. Instead I needed to create more of a blackboard MET type course. I didn’t know the course needed to be so upper level. Anyways, I planned on it being more of a F2F combined with online components so synchronous and asynchronous communication was the plan. I wanted to have opportunities for my students to ask questions in class as well as form questions on the blog part of the site to seek additional clarification/input.
Now understanding more what I should have done, I think create a discussion forum with the opportunity to ask questions as well as virtual office hours would be key. I would also offer my e-mail address out depending on the number of students in the class would determine how willing id be to encourage email use at any time of day/night. I have had a course before where the prof asked for emails to be sent during office hours etc to prevent an abundance of emails over weekends and evenings etc. I have also had a prof who provided phone numbers including cells and told us to call her at anytime of day or night as she wanted nothing more than for us to succeed and learn in her course. I feel like I would do better with a balance, i try to have a very open door policy with my parents in my class, but obviously that falls within work hours etc.
Everything works better when balanced 🙂