Let me say that I have started this post a few times now and have gone back and deleted what I have written. I will give a few of my thoughts in a bulleted form in order to organize my thoughts.
- I do not always like task related experiences in classes that I have to pay for. I say this because I do not want to pay to learn something that I can learn for free by researching on the web. I would hope that a masters program would open up my eyes to new ideas or in this case technologies. Many of the tasks in this class have been experiences I have already had. I do understand that this class is early in the program. It seems like it would be great computer imagination if a class like this designed itself around the learners experiences verses a one size fits all approach.
- I have liked the tasks that have options the best. When a task has an option, there is a better chance for the learner to make it meaningful to them. I use the podcast as an example. I produced a music before, so recording a podcast was easy. I struggled finding ways to post it online, which is why I chose to go that route. It would not have been meaningful for me to subscribe to a podcast for this class because I have done that prior to this semester.
- I would like more feedback. The times that I have not received full credit on assignments, I have been in the dark and had to seek out the guidance of the instructor. As a teacher, I find that grades should be an indicator of what the student is learning. I feel that in our class the grades are very behavioristic in their approach. Do a task, get a grade. I wonder if we were in a classroom setting we would be graded on whether we spoke 3 times or 4 times or if it what we said to each other would be held in higher value.
- I do feel that the tasks that we have been asked to do are relevant. I am concerned though that the technology experiences we are having will be out of date in a few years.
- I appreciate R/D9. I do not use my RSS Feed anymore. I do like del.icio.us. My blog will be changed drastically after this class is done. Blogs could be a great tool, and free (sort of ) to implement.
- I would like to see the EDT courses use more of Dale's Cone when designing lessons. I feel that we are often times on our own to figure items and tasks out instead of being "taught" even though Sharon has been very quick to reply whenever I have had a question.
4 comments:
Matt,
I had a hard time saying what I wanted to say becuase I didn't want to sound too negative. But after reading a lot of classmates responses, we are all having some common concerns. Two main ones are the lack of feedback and the feeling of not being "taught" as much as having to figure it out on our own. I think you make very valid points, and you stated them very eloquently.
How would you grade responses if you taught a class that involved blogging? I don't know anything about how she or any other professor would go about grading this stuff. Can she access it from blackboard? Or does she have to get right on our blog sites? It seems like an organizational nightmare to me--trying to figure out who replied to who...
Chrissy
I think a lot of us have had the same concerns with lack of communication and confusion about class tasks. I also agree that our class participation seems to be weight on just how many blogs we are making each week rather than the content we are talking about. I too would also like to see a few professor posts each week. I have yet to come across any on my blog and would like to know a little more from our instructors.
Jennifer
I like you response of having more choices. Many of the assignments I know I won't use because of security issues with our district as well as being early elementary. Having choices would be an excellent way of allowing for us to be able to explore the options and use what best fits.
Also your point on the feedback from the instructor, the only way it is sent is by e-mailing her. It would be helpful to have that. As well as the responses to the blogs. When I have had to post responses on blackboards discussion board I always read everybody's posting, just because I didn't like seeing (new) next to the post. I always read them and the ones I had a response to I would do so. The blogs are a nice thing and I'm glad to use it, but I do find the blackboard easier for this type of reflection and response tasks.
I thought it funny that you said you feel like a lot of the things that we are learning will be outdated. Isn't that the nature of technology. The newest thing will be along soon but it doesn't mean that you skip right to it because it isn't here yet.
I am glad that you have had a chance to experience some of these things before but I think that the point of this program and having this class first is that everyone taking these courses come from different levels and may not know some of this stuff.
Hopefully, the program will get more difficult if that is what you are looking for. But tell me, how much of what you teach especially in the beginning of the year is review for some of your students (some that may have transferred and already know some of what you are teaching)they can't just say I know this so I'll come back when you get to what I don't know.
How would you teach an on-line course? I think that if Sharon were holding those of you that have more information about technology to a higher standard, you would be upset because others weren't being held to the same standard.
I do feel like there needs to be a little more direction in some instances but teaching isn't telling; in many ways, you learn more by exploring.
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