Photo by tarotastic @ Flickr.Organized Chaos…that is what internet communications are to me. I definitely benefit from having the multitude of windows open at the same time. Do I get distracted? Sure! However, I make some great connections between materials as I “multi-task” in my various online environments.
In terms of the organized chaos of teaching with online communications…They can be so organized in the manner you track them, or initially organize them; however, once communications start the spiral out of control (at least out of my control in the method and manner in which I hoped they would go). With asynchronous discussions you are not monitoring at all times and students can say one thing, or move down an entire thread of discussion, that you didn’t consider, or want. And wikis, don’t get me started there. I have definite ideas how information should be organized and presented…once people start constructing their own pages and making their own links, it’s out of my control…And I just have to accept it!
But this chaos can be so beautiful and enlightening. Students having time to think about what they might say, before being pressured to say it in a f2f environment, can sometimes be amazingly insightful. With the right types of prompt, I definitely feel like I get more engaged thinking out of students in online asynchronous environments.
Photo by downtownlynn @ Flickr
2 comments:
I'm really enjoying this class. The assignments are meaningful, I'm learning a lot, the resources are terrific and Shelley seems always available. Although it's a lot of work, afterwards I find myself still reflecting and going "wow! who'da thunk?"
By comparison, my other online CIS course is full of meaningless busy work, the grading is petty, and the instructor can't be bothered for anything more than a grunt of feedback. After extremely long work sessions, I find myself fuming for days...and thinking things like "they actually pay him for this job?"
The day/night difference between the 2 courses has given me a lot of food for thought about my own. I'm just a lucky guy, I guess.
--Peter C.
Thanks a bunch for the good feedback. One of the reasons I think it is critical to take an online course before teaching one is so you learn those little lessons. :-)
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