Reflecting

Well, we made it through our first semester with thousands of students, several new instructors, chairs and staff and a new learning management system. While there were a few bumps, I think our semester went smoothly, especially the technical aspects of things. Thanks to all who made it so.

Blogging has been an interesting experience for me. I like to write but have not done so for an online audience. I have felt much like Julie in the movie Julie and Julia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_&_Julia. Julie Powell, an unpublished writer and cook, starts a blog about her attempt to recreate every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook masterpiece Mastering the Art of French Cooking. At first, the only people who read her blog are her mother and husband. But you never know who will catch a glimpse of your blog. In the movie, it all turns out happily ever after, with a book deal.

I'm not looking for another book deal, but I hope I've given someone out there a few things to think about over these weeks. We are in an exciting field which is rapidly changing with new tech, a mix of unprepared and overly-prepared students, institutional and budget limitations. One the basic premises of Adult Learning is that it is a continuing process. As instructors of adults, we should be living this by taking opportunities to learn new technologies and techniques and use them in our teaching. I hope I inspired you to be all you can be as an online instructor and, in turn, inspire your students to do the same.

Several decades ago when I was a student on campus at Michigan State University, my roommates and I ended finals by blasting some favorite songs out through our dorm windows. One of my blasting favorites was from Three Dog Night Celebrate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXI6CdTVJ-0. Virtually blasting it out my windows this week!

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!

Signing off for this semester and heading to the beach!

Taking It Up a Notch

I don’t know if I’m ready for this! From articles I’ve read recently, it seems that e-instructors are set to move to a new phase again…from facilitation to partnerships. In my abbreviated history of education, we have moved from the teacher as the source of knowledge (the talking head at the center of the learning experience) to the facilitator where we guide our students through the maze of our content. This is where I think e-instructors should be currently. Through the use of new technologies which include Web 2.0 tools, the instructor’s role will change from facilitator to partner in the learning process. “Learning must be less structured and more informal, self-enabled, interactive, and collaborative. The early success of new tools, like social networks, video, wikis, podcasts, IM, and more, show a demand for learner-driven education.” (Unified Learning and Collaboration, 2010)

“The role, then, of instructors becomes more engaged throughout but as partners in the process and not only as facilitators. While facilitation skills will still be important, the overall goal becomes one of collaborative work and mutual support so that ideas are not only generated but built upon and produced in a meaningful context of use. Additionally, while instructors will still have content knowledge and the advanced formation of thinking, their focus will be to offer those as part of the overall process and expect full participation from students who also have some content knowledge and are in the process of forming their thinking. The long-term outcome, then, is advancement of ideas and the improvement of every participant's knowledge base and application expertise--including the instructor.” (Reynard, 2010)

What does this mean for us? This is a difficult question because technology is moving so quickly but it could mean “making education more active, effective, and personalized by addressing individual learning styles and special needs”. It could mean “facilitating formal and informal learning and meeting the needs of mobile learners” or “delivering personalized content based on an individual’s needs and learning style”. I find the “personalized content” idea intriguing but can’t quite vision how this would work. (Unified Learning and Collaboration, 2010)

Whatever the form or method, I think it is a wake-up call to us that higher education will change and we need to be ready for that change. We won’t be teaching in the same old way we were taught or even how we’re teaching today. However, will our learners, who come from all different learning spectrums, be ready? Nate W. commented on this in a recent blog post. (See Nate's blog.) I’ve also commented on this in previous posts about K-12 education incorporating new technologies faster than we are at the upper levels of education.

As we close out another semester, what will you do to move forward in technology, collaboration, creativity or inspiration next semester, even just a little bit. For more food for thought see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8. Get inspired!

Unified Learning and Collaboration. (2010, April). Retrieved May 2, 2010, from www.elluminate.com:

Reynard, R. (2010, April 7). The Changing Role of Instructors Moving from Facilitation to Constructive Partnerships. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from T.H.E. Journal: http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/04/07/The-Changing-Role-of-Instructors-Moving-from-Facilitation-to-Constructive-Partnerships.aspx?Page=1