With the rapidly advancement of technology in today's society there are many new tools and strategies that educators can implement. I personally believe taht anything that is used to enhance learning and the students can learn and apply what they have learned should be considered a learning tool or strategy. There are so many of us who forget what the real focus should be which is learning and not how we learn. An effective teacher faces many decisions and challenges and plays many roles. They must be able to deliver and guide the overall learning process. According to Siemens (2008) the practice of teaching is promoted in may ways. Some of those ways are research, innovations, and technology.
Discussion boards, wikis, blogs, podcasts, interactive videos, and projects were all great tools touse in my online classes. Also, those tools helped to provide me with a great learning experience. Discussion boards, wikis, and blogs are a great way for online learners to communicate, express their ideas, concerns, and questions. In order for online learners to get the maximum benefit in online learning, discussion boards must be deisgned properly. According to Durrington, Berryhill, & Swafford (2006) successful strategies to engage learners in discussion boards are constant feedback, carefully constructed and designed questions, and quality topics.
Emmorfia
Durrington, V. A.,Berryhill, A. & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies for ehnancing student interactivity in an online environment. College Teaching, 54(1), 190-193.
Siemens, G. (2008). Learning and knowing in networks: Chanigng roles for educators and designers. ITForum.
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Emmorfia, I appreciate your reminder of the focus on learning itself. I do believe that many educators are so focused on the presentation of learning that learning may be overlooked at times. I think that there are so many tools and strategies on the market now that educators become overwhelmed by trying to select the most updated and efficient learning tool. It is important to remember to assess our students' needs to determine the most appropriate strategy, which may or may not be the most popular technological device.
ReplyDeleteEmmorfia:
ReplyDeleteYou mention ‘redesign’ as an important part of the distant learning tools. I agree with you because in this educational field our tools change continuously. All those technologies that you mention will be redesign again and again. We could stay behind if we are not aware of this possibility and if we are not open to this change. As a computer teacher I find myself constantly changing my course activities. I have collages that usually have a very similar class every year.
Larissa