2.2 Reflection: Methodologies of the Online Instructor

1. Reflecting on the information covered in this module so far, how might your instructional methodologies need to change in an online or blended learning environment?

2. What skills and strategies might you improve or expand upon in order to best support student learning in a blended or online environment?

This assignment forced me to take a critical look at teaching methodologies I have used in a face-to-face environment and consider whether or not those practices would be successful in an online or blended model. I decided I needed to get a clearer picture of what my teaching style is. I took an online quiz that helped me evaluate my preferences: Teaching Styles Self Evaluation. While I always thought I used more of a “Delegator” style, I found my actual choices were a combination of “Formal/Authoritarian and “Demonstrator/Personal.” I think the online environment, particularly, lends itself to the “Facilitator” and “Delegator” style, and I would like to explore methodologies that reflect those styles.

In light of this new information and looking at the National Standards for Quality Online Teaching, Standard A – “The online teacher knows the primary concepts and structures of effective online instruction and is able to create learning experiences to enable student success,” I feel I need to focus on developing assignments that encourage students’ independence and problem solving skills and enable them to use modalities that best demonstrate their learning.

Using the Discussion feature in an online/blended environment is one place to let students take more responsibility for their learning. Having students select their own articles related to the topic and post them for other students to respond to is a way to begin the process. Also the use of voting and polling tools provides students with a voice that may or may not reflect the teacher point of view and encourages more critical thinking. Giving students more credit for reviewing other sources like video, webinars, podcasts, etc. allows for diverse learning styles and independent exploration. Formative assessment becomes an integral part of the assignment; providing multiple measures for success is a way I plan to expand my understanding of student performance. Assessment may vary according to learner needs and what is the best match for the topic.

This You Tube video from Indiana University is interesting in that it provides an overview of how to plan an online course, discussing the pedagogical differences in online and onsite classes: Planning an Online Course

After taking two online self-assessments, I feel confident that I have the necessary skills to perform in an online environment. While I answered the questions correctly, there are definitely areas for improvement I plan to address, particularly in the areas of time management. Establishing a dedicated workspace and appointed time during the week for working on projects will be very beneficial in keeping me on track. My motivation for taking the Leading Edge course is to be able to create the best environment for students to gain knowledge and expertise by enhancing current knowledge and learning new skills.

One challenge, as I see it currently, in an online environment is creating the energy that a group working together in a face-to-face class affords. An understanding of how to foster connection, communication and collaboration online is a skill I am interested in developing. One of my personal learning goals for this course is focused on creating an effective forum for productive discussions. It seems that “discussion” may be at the heart of online learning. Sharing ideas and new learning openly and honestly can enlighten everyone and vitalize the group. Also, discussions that encourage learners to consider alternative ways of thinking about strategies and assessing students’ knowledge is a powerful means of changing behavior and increasing the quality of education. I am interested in learning how to create a forum that fosters that kind of sharing.

In addition, another one of my learning goals is to explore the best technology tools that match the learning objectives of the course. With Web 2.0 tools ever increasing, I would like to look at different kinds of software applications and innovative technologies that are best suited to develop critical thinking skills. I have some experience producing podcasts and video, but I have not used the online digital sharing resources to a large extent and would like to incorporate those into an online class.

I am exploring Go2Web20; it is a directory that enables people to stay up to date with new services that are created every day. There are links and descriptions of applications, which make this exploration very efficient. Check out the site:  Go2Web20

I am looking forward to learning and experimenting with new strategies and applications to better facilitate online courses.