The Summer of 2013 was a fast paced, action-packed summer. That was especially in regards to the courses I took- not the activities I engaged in!
The first course I was enrolled in opened my eyes up to the world of online learning. ITEC7480, Introduction to Online Learning, was an interesting course because it allowed me to see online learning from a different perspective. Up until this point, I only had taken online courses, I never really considered what it took to go into an online course. This experience made me realize that a lot of work surely goes into online teaching, and there are similar as well as different benefits and challenges associated to this educational experience. Efficiency, time management, creativity, flexibility, and organization is essential to teaching, whatever environment you are in. In ITEC7480 I created an online learning module, which is in the previous blog post. This mini-module was just a small piece of instruction. It made me truly understand the difficult nature of instructing elementary school online. This method of teaching is intriguing, to say the least! I learned how to facilitate proper online learning through this course, and as a technology leader within my school, I can apply this knowledge to help others. I also learned how to plan an mini-module that optimized student engagement and enhanced student learning. I focused on making it age-appropriate and engaging, because students in first grade most definitely need stimulating learning experiences to maintain their focus. I made sure that I differentiated the module to address multiple styles of learning, and included an appropriate assessment. One day, I hope to be able to teach students in an online environment to further enhance my skills as an educator.
The other class I took was EDRD715, Theory and Pedagogy Study of Literacy. This particular course gave me the necessary knowledge and exposure to the world of literacy education. It was a difficult course that held the bar high for educators. Since I have become a teacher, I have always taught the primary grade levels. That is my comfort zone in education! I generally know what it takes to be an effector educator in reading and writing, but this course truly enhanced that knowledge because it forced me to go deeper in my understanding of literacy. It taught me the why behind the how. This course also had me evaluate my personal theory of reading, prior to taking the course and again at the completion of it. While it did not extensively change, I was able to offer more insight of the comprehensive model of literacy. This will help me as I continue my experiences as an educator.
The first course I was enrolled in opened my eyes up to the world of online learning. ITEC7480, Introduction to Online Learning, was an interesting course because it allowed me to see online learning from a different perspective. Up until this point, I only had taken online courses, I never really considered what it took to go into an online course. This experience made me realize that a lot of work surely goes into online teaching, and there are similar as well as different benefits and challenges associated to this educational experience. Efficiency, time management, creativity, flexibility, and organization is essential to teaching, whatever environment you are in. In ITEC7480 I created an online learning module, which is in the previous blog post. This mini-module was just a small piece of instruction. It made me truly understand the difficult nature of instructing elementary school online. This method of teaching is intriguing, to say the least! I learned how to facilitate proper online learning through this course, and as a technology leader within my school, I can apply this knowledge to help others. I also learned how to plan an mini-module that optimized student engagement and enhanced student learning. I focused on making it age-appropriate and engaging, because students in first grade most definitely need stimulating learning experiences to maintain their focus. I made sure that I differentiated the module to address multiple styles of learning, and included an appropriate assessment. One day, I hope to be able to teach students in an online environment to further enhance my skills as an educator.
The other class I took was EDRD715, Theory and Pedagogy Study of Literacy. This particular course gave me the necessary knowledge and exposure to the world of literacy education. It was a difficult course that held the bar high for educators. Since I have become a teacher, I have always taught the primary grade levels. That is my comfort zone in education! I generally know what it takes to be an effector educator in reading and writing, but this course truly enhanced that knowledge because it forced me to go deeper in my understanding of literacy. It taught me the why behind the how. This course also had me evaluate my personal theory of reading, prior to taking the course and again at the completion of it. While it did not extensively change, I was able to offer more insight of the comprehensive model of literacy. This will help me as I continue my experiences as an educator.