FACILITATION: INDIVIDUAL WORK
WHICH SHOE, WHEN TO WEAR IT, WILL IT FIT, AND WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING SOMETHING?
Individual work:
I found myself doing a lot of work alone and bringing it to class for evaluation. One example was looking for websites to keep the online teacher up to date with technologies and another was locating appropriate ice breakers for the first couple of weeks of class.
It was difficult to keep up with the resources that other people brought to class as well. I found that targeting other studetns who had similar experience and understanding to me, as well as one or two who had exceptional skills where I did not worked well. This changed with each board.
The most useful indiviudal experience of this course was actually facilitating a week. I did this twice. I used both synchronous ans asynchronous tools once and just asynchronous the second time. Colleagues in this course were the creme d la creme of critiques and their responses in posts and during the Wimba really helped me to learn about my own teaching style. It is easy just ot balme the student when they don't get something or just find you boring. I experienced all of these feeling and was forced to reflect and try hard.
Overall the course assignment that required reflection on the most important and crucial aspects of successfully facilitating and online course was the grand finale of this course really. I certainly have a greater understanding of the multiple roles that onlien instructors take on. Please see the group project.
ps This is my 3 year old son in a ladies shoe shop helping himself to the display...
