ETC645 Lesson 1 Reflections

(Same message posted to course announcement & discussion note area)

We have finished Lesson 1 instructions.  I hope it gave you better ideas on how our class works.  Thanks for your actively participating in Lesson 1 discussions and other lesson activities.  Here are some reflections to share with you to help you to enhance your further learning.  Please do continue your good work in the upcoming lessons.

• Lesson Discussions
  • Post your responses as early as possible so your good ideas won't be taken by our classmates.  We have a very heavy schedule of reading assignments.  It is important to complete the lesson readings before the lesson starts.
  • Be sure to respond to the questions raised by others to your postings.  Frequently, the moderators, the classmates, and the instructors ask you questions based on your postings. 
  • The minimum number of postings is 6.  Generally, most of students share more than 6.  I know you have more to share. When you read others' postings, I am sure you have the reflections, and thoughts to share with us. 
  • How can I engage in the 2^nd postings?
    • There are many ways you can engage in the 2^nd postings.
      • Read & respond to others' postings.
      • Respond to the questions raised by others to your postings.
      • Respond to the "Follow-Up" questions posted by the instructor.
      • Justify/Improve your initial postings to the key discussion questions.
      • Reflect and analyze your own postings.
      • Compare/contrast different postings.
  • Key word for Subject field: Did you update the Subject field for each of your postings?  Do update with the relevant keywords so our threaded discussions will be easier to follow when we are ready to read and to reply to the postings. See my postings for how we can update the Subject field with key works.
  • Avoid initiating a new thread for our lesson discussion.  Use "reply" to post your responses.
  • If you have any questions for me, avoid posting them in the discussion board. E-mail me so I can address your questions in a timely fashion.
• Lesson 1 discussion reflections
  • Why is it important to learn instructional design for online learning?  Some of us may or may not have chance to teach or to design online learning instructions. Learning about online learning instructional designs is to help us to know how wide human learning can be.  Online technologies are considered to have the potential to extend human learning.  By knowing how far online technologies may extend human learning helps us to teach and design in online or non-online learning environments.  Even though, we may not have the chance to teach or to design online instructions, it is almost impossible that we do not integrate online technology to support our non-online instructions.
  • Learner interaction
    • When we study online learning, one thing we should understand: Online learning is not taking FTF instruction and putting them online.  Online learning has its own learning paradigm, and theoretical framework.  Learner interaction is the key element in online learning. More specifically, online learner-learner interaction is very critical because without it, online learning would be more like correspondence learning.
    • In our 2^nd key discussion question, we pondered how attributes of learning related to six forms of online interaction.  This is a very challenging question because it requires us to be able to think in a larger picture of learning and online interaction.  I suggest that you to draw a diagram to help you to relate the two domains to each other to help you understand online learning.  What sort of diagram may you draw to show the relationships between two domains?
  • Here are a few questions to help you to challenge your understanding in online learning.
    • Within all six types of interactions, what interactions are more critical to online learning?
    • Technology is critical to online learning.  Why is technology not included in the six types of online interaction?  Shouldn't learner-interface/technology interaction be critical?
    • If online technology shouldn't be seen as replicating FTF instructions, what role should online learning play in human learning?
  • I think we have many quality postings although our average postings were below the historical average. We do focus on the quality of the discussion not just quantity.  Without a certain level of quantity, the quality could be limited. I hope we will have both positive quality and quantity discussions in upcoming discussions.
    • Lesson 1 Discussion Statistical Analysis
    • Highest-Lowest: 20-0
    • Our average postings: 8.05
    • Historical average posting: 11.72
    • View ETC645 Interactive Lesson Discussion Statistics: https://sites.google.com/site/etc645/discussion-analysis
• Assignment 2
  • Prepare Assignment 2. It is highly recommended you try out the tools you evaluate and not just observe.
• ETC645/ETC655
  • Several of you asked whether you should take ETC655 for the 2^nd 7-Week session. If you would like to enroll ETC655 in the 2^nd 7-Week session this semester, please e-mail me.  It is a good choice to take ETC645 and ETC655 in the same semester and toward to later in the program.
• Group work
  • Start your group communication and group planning.
  • Lesson moderation: Group 3 moderates Lesson 3.
  • Prepare your group work by coordinating your individual assignments (assignment 2 & 3).
  • Your group can use your BBCollaborate group conferencing room to collaborate and coordinate the group tasks. Bookmark your group space for easy access.
• Discussion grade & feedback
  • Currently, Lesson 1 moderators and I are reviewing and finalizing our discussion grade and feedback.  When completed, I will forward them to you ASAP.