Over the years I have participated in and lead online learning. I have encountered online courses that asked basic questions and lacked the ability to foster deep discussions. I have participated in online learning that was so text heavy I thought I was drowning in ink. I have participated in online learning that failed me-the learner. I have also participated in online learning that stimulated thought and grew me as a professional. I have benefited from online learning that provides engaging ways for me to learn without drowning in text.
Now I find myself again in a position of leading online learning. My goal as the director of online learning and as an online teacher is to engage participants in a way that is meaningful. I want to encourage thought, reflection, and the idea of community as participants learn from the online courses and offerings we provide.
I want to find ways to engage my participants through a variety of media options most specifically so they don't feel they are drowning in text. Online learning provides the mechanism to offer the diversity I want. I hope what I am learning from this course will serve me well as I craft more discussion opportunities for participants. I hope to add more opportunities for participants to explore what they are learning as we have done in this course.
I know I won't be able to do this without some challenges. My biggest challenge so far has been in moving my online teachers along this path. They are experts in their field, but their field isn't technology or online learning. Last year, I had a couple of teachers try recording some brief sessions in order to alleviate some of the heavy text, but after seeing what they were able to produce we left the participants with the heavy text. I knew I had to learn more in order to move these teachers. I think I am doing that.
