Should the course have a check list? I hope that it does not come to that. The idea of this course was that it would be a self directed learning experience with collaboration. Having to follow a check list to see if you accomplished you grocery list for this week is not my idea of what self-directed learning is. What kind of impact would this have on the instructor. This would take an alarming amount of time on the instructors part. The instructor would have to establish a routine in which the sites for each of the students was visited and then view each site to determine if the checklist was completed. This is definitely not collaboration!
If I am able to take some of the tools that I have been introduced to in this course and I can use those tools, then would this not show that I have accomplished what this course was designed to do. Using the tools in an everyday (or on a weekly) setting should indicate that I did get some learning from this course. The tools that I am currently using, I have found them to be useful and I have been using them in my daily work. Thanks.
The idea of having the students visit each others blogs and leave comments is interaction and collaboration between participants. Having the ability to see where each of us are in terms of learning, getting help for each other and not being dependent upon the instructor as the sole provider of information is definitely collaboration. This course has definitely provided that opportunity.
Collaboration and self-directed learning has surely been established and maintained throughout this course. It has been the cornerstone of this course. As a novice in the area of internet and ICT learning, I definitely feel that I have had a great deal of information given to me, tools introduced and constant instruction that enabled me to use these tools and get constant feedback from my instructor and peers. Without any of the above, I would not have been able to accomplish what I have so far. Keep the collaboration going, do not restrict the learning that has been established.
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Well said Tom!! It really is what we make of it!!
Who knew you could learn so much without a textbook! I guess this might be food for thought as we try to take what we’ve learned into our classrooms. No, I do not suppose our students are as motivated as we are. That should not stop us from trying to integrate these tools, however. You never know what might spark a student’s interest. I have found HTML coding for some and Macromedia Flash for others to be tasks that have connected with some not so stellar students. So let’s keep trying out the available tools and let others (collaborate) know about our successes and struggles.
Well said from me too. I have been concerned about not accomplishing everything. With the difficulties I have had with downloading programs and trying to get them to work with my system I feel I have not accomplished this “task list”, yet I have learned so much about communications on the web and the potential for future learning.
I agree completely and I especially like your reflection on the learning achieved through the collaboration between us rather than relying on the teacher as the “sole provider of information.” It’s very helpful to see how it works with our group and it gives me ideas of how it might work with my students – what to watch for and how to keep things moving while they learn from one another.
I agree with all said… This then (I pray) will lead to an individualized marking schemata for each and all of us. In having a check list, then (I assume) that we would be marked according to that checklist. This, to my way of thinking, would make the instructor’s job a bit easier; however, this would not bode well for a person of limited computer abilities such as myself. I know that I am giving this course a very decent effort, but in comparison to a few of my classmate colleagues, I am still riding a bike with training wheels. If we are to use the same marking scale… I think I would be found in between Q and Z somewhere as a final grade posting. Question: Are these letters applicable to that of a Master’s Program?