Online with Jen

“When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.” Catherine Gilbert Murdock Over the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to participate in different elements in our Online Course. Two important elements, in my opinion, were the virtual chat and the Phases of Engagement Framework that was completed within a group discussion forum. Both of these require some planning, forethought, and participation. They are not quick, mindless postings with little to no interaction or an assignment done solo and submitted. When you provide opportunities for students to engage, you are creating a more inclusive community and it just feels...well, more personal. Even though planning an online meeting can be a challenge - people's schedules are often difficult to accommodate - there are so many benefits to a virtual meeting. This is where you get to see and hear your instructor and your fellow students and interact in real time. Students don't alw...

I am just a couple of weeks into the Online Faculty course, and so far, I have really enjoyed meeting new people and sharing ideas and insights into the world of online education. I'm seeing some interesting things in these discussions and I've come to some initial conclusions. There seems to be, in general, three types of people in online education: those who are one hundred percent on board, those with questions, and those with serious doubts. This isn't really new - I've seen it since I started teaching online. There are a lot of doubters who don't believe online education will ever be equal to traditional education. But there are increasingly more and more educators who are tentatively dipping their toes into online and finding that the water isn't so bad. They have questions and worries, but they are willing to address them. Most want to learn more and try new things (hence, this course).  I have been all three types. When I started teaching online, I w...