Discussion 3-A-1

 How have your past experiences with online/blended learning impacted your goals for your future students?

While pursing my first Master’s Degree at Philadelphia University it was a blend of face-to-face learning and online learning.  At first, I was not a real fan of the online format because I missed the interaction between peers and the professor and having the ability to have a deep conversation about a topic.  As the course proceeded I began to enjoy the format because it gave my the freedom to complete the work when I had the time and I had more time to reflect on the other students response with a more in-depth answer.

My past experiences have been a mixture of positive and negative feelings.  The main factor that separated it from positive and negative is the professor.  The professor was the one element that made the class pleasure able or miserable.  Having both of these experiences has made me understand what it takes to be an effective instructor.  I plan on taking what I have learned from the good professors and applying that to my courses.  

How do you hope to engage your students effectively in online learning?

Know the classroom mechanics of an online course

-       Many students have questions relating to the navigation of the web course (Canvas, Blackboard, etc) that can be simply answered by the instructor, not the tech department.

Get to know your students
-       Putting a face to the name on the screen and learning some background information about the student.  
-    Personally responding to each students posts and looking at the students patterns to determine if they disabilities of hardships. 

Be accessible and respond to student inquiries in a timely manner.

-          Go beyond the university requirements of posting a brief, weekly announcement.

-          Provide substantive feedback and positive critique

-         Strong instructor presence.

Inject some fun into the classroom

-         Cooperative/collaborative (active) learning

What has been (or do you anticipate being) the most challenging aspect of online/blended teaching for you? What solutions have you considered to this challenge?

The most challenging aspect for me so far has been finding a job!  I understand that I have not officially graduated, however every position I have seen advertised has a requirement of “having experience teaching in online class.”  I am not sure how to gain experience in an online class…it is not like I can substitute teach! 

Another concern I have is finding the time to check, read; respond to everyone’s posts.  At first it seems like it is going to be a little over whelming, however I am sure once I get in a routine it will be a lot easier.