3.....2....1....Ready to Launch!

                It seems fitting as I begin this blog, that I am watching Apollo 13.  I mean, if ever there were a film about the necessary preparation for a launch, it is this one.  This week's blog is about the launch (or the first few days) of an online course.  What are the considerations that one must consider in their design that will provide an experience that is engaging, and meaningful to the students?  Here are a few questions and answers that address the launch of an online course.

Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?

                If you do not know where you are going, how will you ever get there?  Attrition is a concerning factor in online education (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  If learners are frustrated because expectations are vague, then they are not likely to stay with the course.  Clear expectations are especially important for those who are new to the online environment (Conrad, & Donaldson, 2011).  Clear expectations are also a reflection of a high level of planning and reflect application of distance learning theory (Smaldino, Simonson, Albright, & Zvacek, 2011). 

What is the significance of knowing the technology available to you?

                Knowing the technology available allows the instructor to be creative in ways that can create an environment that is engaging and fun.  The experts in this week's video (Palloff, and Pratt, n.d.) speak to the importance of keeping the environment from being too serious.  Multi-media tools that allow for audio and video content can enrich the environment and keep learners engaged with the instructor and with each other (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Technology is also a way for online learners to protect their privacy if that is their desire.  Dr. Pratt mentions using an avatar in the online setting rather than one's actual picture (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.). 

What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?

                There is much to consider when setting up an online course.  Besides using technology and establishing clear expectations, the instructor needs to establish themselves in the course community in a way that makes them more relatable (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  The use of technology can help with this task.  Instructors must also take the time to get to know their students.  Something as simple as using the names of students in a post and remembering something about the students can make the difference for many (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Instructors must also create an environment where students understand their role in the community.  Asking good questions of students that move discussions forward and add depth to the conversations is an important job for an online instructor (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Finally, the online instructor must create an environment that is safe and respectful of the needs of students (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).

References

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J.A. (2011) Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for 

     creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Howard, R. (Director) (19950. Apollo 13 [DVD].

Palloff, R., & Pratt, K. (n.d.). Launching the online experience [Web]. Retrieved from https://class.

     waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=2_1&url=/webapps

     /blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1375244_1url=

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance:

     Foundations of distance education (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson

Sitting alone, watching an online video about creating an online community. Hmmmmmm...........A bit ironic I think.

               The questions posed to us in this week's prompt have to do with what we learned this week about becoming a more effective online instructor.  The focus of this blog posting is a synthesis of a video about "Effective Online Communities" (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Ok, I am trying not to be overly critical here, but I have to admit.  I am feeling pretty grumpy about this assignment, and here is why.  To begin, based on what I have studied in the resources this week, and from the Walden distance learning course, as well as many books I have read for classroom instruction, I am being told again, and again that distance/online instruction must be engaging (Conrad & Donaldson, 2011), meaningful (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012), and community driven (Palloff, & Pratt).  Well, as I watched the video of two people talking at me for 44 minutes, it occurred to me that even though the content was meaningful (in order for me to pass this course, and further my knowledge base), it was neither engaging, or community driven.  In fact, I feel that way about pretty much every video I have ever watched in the Walden video library. 

                Now, I understand the videos have a purpose in terms of establishing a base of knowledge in order to further the discussion that will follow in the online community.  My question to the group is why as an adult learner must I be subjected to such presentations?  Just because I am an adult does not mean that I love watching content like this.  The presenters in the video spoke of the concern of attrition with online learners (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.), Dr. Pratt even went so far as to say that some types of learners will never be able to succeed in the online environment (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Well, when I sit down and watch some of the content presented, it is not hard for me to understand why some people walk away.  Now, some folks might say that the content is not in itself the heart of the learning community; it is the members of the community that drive the content.  Well, I am going to have to disagree with you.  In order to be a solid contributing member of the community, one must know the content, which means reading the text, as well as watching and synthesizing the video content.  This is very difficult when the content presented is often dry, and extraneous. 

                So now what?  I think this week's video presentations have brought about a completely new set of questions for me as a future online designer and instructor.  For instance, how do I sustain an online community when the content is delivered in a way that is not satisfactory to the learners?  The short answer is design new content (I have included the video I made for my orientation to eighth grade distance learners that will be working with a group of classroom students.  I think it really sums up what an online community looks like through my eyes.).  However many online instructors are facilitating courses they did not design.  Maybe the answer comes down to the shared responsibility to the entire group.  Maybe that is the whole point to the dry content.  Maybe Walden feels like if we see this type of content enough we will come together as a community and find ways to help each other get through the content and create a greater learning experience (Palloff, & Pratt, n.d.).  Or maybe these videos are cheap to produce and if we really want to get through the program, we will sit, watch quietly and alone and then get on with our lives.

 

References

Conrad, R. & Donaldson, J.A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for 

     creative instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Palloff, R. (Writer), & Pratt, K. (Writer) (n.d.).  Online learning communities [Web].  Retrieved from

     https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=webaps/ 

     blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1375244_&url=

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance:

     Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson

New State, New Job, New Course!

Hi All!

     Well here we go!  Week one of the Online Instructional Strategy course, and it's time to warm up the old blog again.  A lot has changed for me over the last couple of months, I have started a new job, moved back to MI, and am now starting another new class with Walden.  Looking forward to it, and hoping I can stay sane.  :)