Monthly Archives: April 2013

Catching up…

I want to look at the different tips for teaching blended courses from my class’ perspective. Yes, I have found that I cannot make any kind of discussions or interactive activities optional. Students tend to choose not to do something if they don’t have to do it. And I found that I need to be very hands-on, active, or right in the middle of the discussions. This makes it so that they know I am passionate about the topic under discussion, and enthusiasm is contagious. Of course, the leader is taking the lead thing – you know.

As of right now, I have a face-to-face lecture day and a lab day for the class I am conducting. And integration of the lab and maximizing its potential is the name of the game. Adding web/internet elements to the CMS helps to enrich the learning experience even more. Besides posting homework announcements, using the discussion board, posting powerpoint presentations and grades online, this semester, just from being in the POT program, I have learned to embed videos and create links to reading assignments and/or articles from our school’s database. I am so excited. And I am also trying out the videos through eyejot on an experimental basis. I will see if this will be something I can use for my next class. Just from this year’s worth of POT training, I have decided to add one more new element every semester to my CMS. And since I am not too familiar with Moodle, I think I will see if I can get an account so that I can familiarize myself with it as well. I just want to make sure that I appeal to all learning styles and maximize my use of web-based materials effectively so as to enrich the courses I teach.

Oh, my next goal is to go through my PPpresentations and narrate them – adding audio elements!Yeah!

From watching Digital Ethnography I am assured that web-based materials for educational purposes will not go away, so instructors must learn to use it to enhance their teachings. The goal is to be effective. One lesson I learned is that I need to set boundaries. Boy! I finally got a smartphone this semester, and did I learn something real QUICK? My students have a tendency to email me with whatever questions – trivial or not – at any time of the day or NIGHT and have an expectation that I should reply or have received the message already. Now, of course, my smartphone informed me that I have a new email message, but I find myself having to hold myself back from responding whenever a message arrives. So, I learned that strict parameters must be made clear to students via the syllabus and reminders. Of course, the problem is with me as well. I need to learn to set parameters for myself and abide by the rules I give to the students. Epiphany!