Learning Experiences
I learned a lot of things in this class. I leant about the two types of communication tools; synchronous and asynchronous communications tools. Asynchronous courses are classes that students take at their own time. Examples of asynchronous tools are listservs, blogs, discussion board, and email. Synchronous courses are implemented in real time. Students usually have to meet up at a specific time to meet to interact with each other in a chat room and/or application sharing. I learned how to design a teacher’s webpage. I learned how to create and maintain a blog. I learned a lot of information about using telecommunications in a classroom environment.
I also learned the answer to a question that I was wondering about for the last three years now. How teachers get so many viruses on their machines? After taking this class, I now know the answer to that question. I got a virus on my laptop doing the group assignments then I got two viruses on my desktop trying to develop my webpage. I got another while trying to finish my term paper. I spent countless hours scanning, cleaning, and reloading my computers.
I learned a lot of things in this class. I leant about the two types of communication tools; synchronous and asynchronous communications tools. Asynchronous courses are classes that students take at their own time. Examples of asynchronous tools are listservs, blogs, discussion board, and email. Synchronous courses are implemented in real time. Students usually have to meet up at a specific time to meet to interact with each other in a chat room and/or application sharing. I learned how to design a teacher’s webpage. I learned how to create and maintain a blog. I learned a lot of information about using telecommunications in a classroom environment.
I also learned the answer to a question that I was wondering about for the last three years now. How teachers get so many viruses on their machines? After taking this class, I now know the answer to that question. I got a virus on my laptop doing the group assignments then I got two viruses on my desktop trying to develop my webpage. I got another while trying to finish my term paper. I spent countless hours scanning, cleaning, and reloading my computers.
Strong points and weak points
I think my weak point is that I don’t have any teaching experience. It was very hard for me to put myself in the teacher role because I don’t do it often and haven’t done it before. Another weak point that I am not a very good writer it takes me hours to write a page about anything. I have to think long and hard before I can compose a decent thought.
My strong point is the use of technology. If I hadn’t got so many virus and didn’t have to stop and clean my computer between assignments, I would have had virtually not problems using the technology because I am technology support at the school district were I work.
Interaction between the professor and classmates
This was my first online class and it was nothing like I never expected simply because of the interaction. There was so much interaction between the classmates, I feel as if I know each one of my classmates personally. I had interaction with classmates through group assignments, class discussions, and blog postings. I was in group three. We all worked well together. I interacted with my other classmates through class discussions and blogs and boy did the personalities shine through the responses, especially Sonya’s. All the responses we well thought out and insightful. I learned a lot about different software and practices in classroom environment.
The professor always responded back in a timely manner no matter what time I sent the email. I always got a response back right away. Dr. Wang went over and beyond the call of duty when it came to answering any questions and helping to resolve technical issues. She surpassed all my expectations.
Communication tools
Email is my primary from of communication in life so it was not hard for me to use it as the primary form of commutation in class. I used email to communicate with Dr. Wang and my classmates. I always got an immediate response and always got my problem resolved or my concern addressed. I used this tool more than any of the others. The advantages of email are that it allows you a way to communicate with others but the disadvantage are that you don’t know how long it will take to get a response back.
Discussion Board
I have a love hate relationship with the discussion board. I love the information that I learned from the discussion board but I hate the amount of time it took out of my day. I literally spent more time reading and responding to the discussions board in both of my online classes this summer than I have doing anything else. One day it took me two hours to read, post, and respond to the discussion board. The advantage of the discussion board is the information that you receive but the disadvantage is that you spend a lot of time reading it. The cost outweighs the benefit.
Chat room
Chat room is used for chatting. I only used the chat room to do the group assignment. Chat room was text only. When my group did the group assignments we used Google chat. The disadvantage is you could not use audio or visual equipment in the chat room. The advantage is that it is real time communication. The users are assured an immediate response.
Voice Board
Voice Board was used to leave voice messages to the class. Each student can go the Voice Board to leave a message. I only used this feature for the assignment. The advantage is that you could personalize your messages using your voice. The disadvantage of voice board is that you have to have a microphone to use it. Your computer may not have come with a microphone and you would have to purchase one.
Live Classroom
This is the audio visual interaction session between people. People go to the live classroom to interact using webcams and microphones. The advantage of live classroom is that you can see and hear the other person. The disadvantage of live is that you have to have a microphone and webcam to use it. Your computer may not have come with a microphone and web cam and you would have to purchase one
Blog
Blog were used for students to reflect on assignments. I learned a lot from reading the other classmate’s blogs. I really enjoyed reading and learning from their experiences. I was comforted knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure and I wasn’t the only getting viruses on my computer. The advantage of blogs is that you have an opportunity to post your thoughts on the webpage. The disadvantage of blogs is that everyone in the world has access to your blog page. You have to be careful what you post on it.
Blog were used for students to reflect on assignments. I learned a lot from reading the other classmate’s blogs. I really enjoyed reading and learning from their experiences. I was comforted knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure and I wasn’t the only getting viruses on my computer. The advantage of blogs is that you have an opportunity to post your thoughts on the webpage. The disadvantage of blogs is that everyone in the world has access to your blog page. You have to be careful what you post on it.
Group work
Group assignments were well thought out and insightful. I enjoyed working in a group to test the tools mainly because it would not have been as affective if I had tested them by myself. Having someone on the other end gave me the full experience of how it would feel to use them in a real learning environment. I enjoyed doing the assignments and learned a lot from doing them. I had to wrap my head around working in a group. I thought this would be a hard task for me because I usually work by myself. But to my surprise the whole experience was painless and was a complete success. Our group got the maximum amount of points on all three assignments. Group assignments are beneficial because you can get another person’s prospective on a subject and if everyone works together you can reduce the workload.
Group assignments were well thought out and insightful. I enjoyed working in a group to test the tools mainly because it would not have been as affective if I had tested them by myself. Having someone on the other end gave me the full experience of how it would feel to use them in a real learning environment. I enjoyed doing the assignments and learned a lot from doing them. I had to wrap my head around working in a group. I thought this would be a hard task for me because I usually work by myself. But to my surprise the whole experience was painless and was a complete success. Our group got the maximum amount of points on all three assignments. Group assignments are beneficial because you can get another person’s prospective on a subject and if everyone works together you can reduce the workload.
Suggestions for the instructor to consider in the future
I really enjoyed this course and I learned a lot. I think the assignments and weekly readings went along with the course. I enjoyed reading the papers for the class, especially the one that discussed using face book in the classroom. I now have a whole new outlook on learning. I do think that there were too many discussion questions and I really don’t see a need for a blog. Why do I have to do the assignment then talk about doing the assignment? I think doing the assignment is plenty enough considering we have to do a course reflection anyway and I have noticed that some classmates post the some information on their blogs that they include in the papers they turned in. I just wasted my time reading the same thing over and over again. But overall this was a positive experience. I really enjoyed doing the assignments. I can really see myself doing this type of thing for a living.
I really enjoyed this course and I learned a lot. I think the assignments and weekly readings went along with the course. I enjoyed reading the papers for the class, especially the one that discussed using face book in the classroom. I now have a whole new outlook on learning. I do think that there were too many discussion questions and I really don’t see a need for a blog. Why do I have to do the assignment then talk about doing the assignment? I think doing the assignment is plenty enough considering we have to do a course reflection anyway and I have noticed that some classmates post the some information on their blogs that they include in the papers they turned in. I just wasted my time reading the same thing over and over again. But overall this was a positive experience. I really enjoyed doing the assignments. I can really see myself doing this type of thing for a living.
