EDU764: E-Learning Practicum
E-learning Practicum: the online equivalent to student teaching. I'm grateful that the UW-Stout certificate program includes this in the curriculum because it gave me my first online teaching experience. The knowledge and activities were wonderful, but this gave me my first glance at applying my new skills in a live, monitored environment. I worked with the Instructional Design course, which is a part of this certificate program. It was my favorite course and I'm so glad I got to "student teach" in it. Not only did I use my new skills, but I got to more closely interact with an excellent instructor who models how a well-designed course can make it seem easy.
I facilitated discussion boards, assisted students with questions about the program, submitted grades and comments on student progress, provided resources, and helped out whenever needed. I attended synchronous meetings, phone meetings with my coordinating instructor, and provided email contact with students.
Most of all, I learned about myself as an online instructor. At first I struggled with finding my "voice" on the discussion boards. I didn't want to be over-bearing as I have experienced that before and found it to be intimidating. I didn't want to appear indifferent either by not responding to students. My personality, though, leans toward the more hands-off approach so I had to learn to step in a little more. My instructors and fellow classmates were very supportive of my as I worked with this issue.
Also, as a part of the course, we were to go back and review some of the materials and topics we had covered in the programs. We wrote annotations of articles from the courses (or new ones on topic). My annotations are HERE.
I wrote a news item for my "student teaching" course on a wonderful website called "Scoop-It" which allows you to curate your own magazine from articles around the web.
Finally, my reflections and assessment of my performance in the course. I thank Dr. O'Connor and Dr. Manning for the opportunity to teach, and to learn from the best!
I facilitated discussion boards, assisted students with questions about the program, submitted grades and comments on student progress, provided resources, and helped out whenever needed. I attended synchronous meetings, phone meetings with my coordinating instructor, and provided email contact with students.
Most of all, I learned about myself as an online instructor. At first I struggled with finding my "voice" on the discussion boards. I didn't want to be over-bearing as I have experienced that before and found it to be intimidating. I didn't want to appear indifferent either by not responding to students. My personality, though, leans toward the more hands-off approach so I had to learn to step in a little more. My instructors and fellow classmates were very supportive of my as I worked with this issue.
Also, as a part of the course, we were to go back and review some of the materials and topics we had covered in the programs. We wrote annotations of articles from the courses (or new ones on topic). My annotations are HERE.
I wrote a news item for my "student teaching" course on a wonderful website called "Scoop-It" which allows you to curate your own magazine from articles around the web.
Finally, my reflections and assessment of my performance in the course. I thank Dr. O'Connor and Dr. Manning for the opportunity to teach, and to learn from the best!