Flight Path Revisited
This was a flight that didn’t go directly from point A to point B as maybe thought. There were so many dips and turns that a gravol needed to be taken once in awhile to keep from throwing up. Now that we have landed and kissing the ground is no longer necessary, I am actually ready to book another flight, but with a better understanding of what to expect along the way.
Looking back at my original goals for this course, I see that what I have learned and “done” will no doubt move education to a whole new level with the students I work with. I can see the power of using an LMS to deliver curriculum, not only efficiently but also interactively. Anderson (2008) demonstrates how content, educators and learners can interact in a web environment and that they form the basis for a new model of online learning. This learning model includes community, structure, collaboration, and independent study. All of which were practiced in this 565 environment.
Going to back to an original quote by Chickering & Erhmann (1996), “Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just sitting in classes listening to teachers, memorizing prepackaged assignments, and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write reflectively about it, relate it to past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves.” This is what I strive to build into every experience I provide for students. Learning and building my own LMS will give me another path to doing so and allow students to discover what learning online is all about.
I have throughout this course had to ask myself the question, “How is this going to benefit students in their learning?”
There are many answers to this, but when creating 21st Century learning experiences it is the above question that must be in the forefront of educators if students are going to use technology efficiently and meaningful.
eLearning ToolKit
It is an amazing way to learn: following, communicating and practicing with your peers. I guess our goal is to spread the word to our colleagues, students and parents that this approach may be the most beneficial way to learn new content. The eLearning Toolkit was something I haven’t experienced before (let alone a Wiki), so it took some getting used to. The ability to have an actual live source of information that is always up to date is truly 21st Century thinking and learning. It is like a living book of information technology that will only continue to grow when it is fed new material. The knowledge that many of my peers in this and in previous courses, indicates that education of the future is ready for a real overhaul.
ETEC 565 Experience
This was truly an experience beyond my wildest expectations. I was blown away by how simple and difficult building an online environment can be and what possibilities are out there. The carrot at the end of it however, is what the students will get out of the experience when presented such a learning environment. In this case, it is I who saw the fruits of my labour and it makes me excited to share this with the students and staff I work with.
My favourite activitiy in this course was trying to discover how to get something to work on my own. It was extremely frustrating, but like a scientist looking for a cure, you never stop trying. I don’t know how many times I published and deleted the same page over and over again or figuring out a new web 2.0 tool in a matter of hours to complete an assignment. The forums were very useful and I have to thank those that put in extra time looking up answers and sharing them with the rest of us. It was so helpful having real life examples of what to expect in completing the necessary components. The people knowledge that this course was able to pool together was truly invigorating and it pushed oneself to try and keep up and stay with the pack.
The case studies were real and lead you to solving problems that could very well be at your school site come September. The discussions that came with them were no different than sitting in a classroom with everyone and participating in an open forum. It was the bringing together of open discussions with the appropriate readings that allowed for some solid answers to some difficult questions.
What’s next?
I can’t wait to back up my Moodle site and put it on my VSB server site to begin using it with my students in the coming year. In building my site, I had a purpose to change the way units are delivered out of the school library. I feel it is a way to still keep the integrity of the library and move it towards the 21st Century. I have plans to look at all of the current library units that are already set up and infuse an aspect of technology into them for the students who will be using them. In times of cutbacks, the library is always one of the first to get cut. Through the library, I hope to demonstrate what is possible in a classroom environment and maybe begin to set up small online learning communities for some of my colleagues. This may be in the form of an LMS or though a website. One thing that I have learned over the years, is that new technologies have to be easy to set up and maintain or teachers will not even attempt it.
My ability to be a lifelong learner in technology will never pass. I am hoping that I will be leading by example and my role as a school administrator does allow me to do so. I am lucky that at my current school, I have many teachers who are willing to try out ideas in using technology. Another ambitious venture is to offer a one half day offsite learning environment with two Grade 7 classes where they would be at home in an online experience. It’s an exciting thought and after taking this course, I feel more confident that it is possible. If anything, it is about providing experiences that students will no doubt be a part of in future education practices.
Anderson, T. (2008). Towards a Theory of Online Learning. In: T. Anderson & F. Elloumi (Eds.), Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Edmonton AB: Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://www.aupress.ca/books/120146/ebook/02_Anderson_2008_Anderson-Online_Learning.pdf
Chickering, A.W. & Ehrmann, S.C. (1996). Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever. American Association for Higher Education Bulletin, 49(2), 3-6.