Julie Bey

Presenting content in a myriad of ways is essential in reaching students of varying backgrounds and lifelonbg experiences. Many online learners are FT parents and/or employees, so it is helpful creating efficient bite-sized learning segments with a short quiz, to maintain confidence and retention for online student with busy lives. 

Delivering course content is an artform with several considerations, such as creating effective lesson plans, using various delivery methods, and reinforcing the days content upon completion of the class day. There are several ways of making course content engaging and memorable, but also consider the attention span.  According to the literature, it lasts approximately 15-18 minutes, we retain 25% of what we hear and retain 40% of what we read. Knowing this reminds us to mix our methodology to reach more students. 

With the help of checklists, the first day can be planned for and somewhat predictable. Remembering students' names can be challenging in larger classroom settings, but with creativity and communication, this can be overcome. I appreciated the various methods of icebreakers with new classrooms. I was a shy student, so I disliked the "Bingo" game, for example. I plan on looking up other ways to get acquainted with the students and myself. 

This lesson stressed the importance of planning. Two points that resonated with me where 1) come in early to mingle with the class to promote enthusiasm for the course, and 2) work backwards from the testing point to determine if the assessments reflect the learning objectives. These are excellent suggestions for new instructors such as myself. 

This module detailed the importance of the three (3) roles instructors have to assume: model, manager, and motivator. In addition, it is crucial for instructors to continue improving their skills by staying current in their field, by developing a professional growth plan, and in teaching assessments. We are fortunate to have resources available to us from virtually anywhere. 

I will try to present a variety of teaching methods and ask for anonymous feedback from my students, knowing that I may not like what I hear. I am going in with the intention of being a good educator that offers a safe space to learn. How successful I am is to be determined! But I want every student to feel seen and heard. With adult students moving on after graduation, I am not sure a 3-mo follow up would be appropriate for the blended class I will be teaching. 

This was an interesting module, in how a simple exercise, like asking your students to close their eyes and write down what comes to mind when given the word, "apple."  It is fascinating how subtle clues can be indicators of learning styles, if we only know to look for them! 

As educators, we need to recognize our students' learning style. I felt I identified with the "Nattie" student, as I like a temperate room with decent lighting. But I also related to the rapper who likes a backdrop of music playing throughout life. Perhaps it is up to us to cover all the bases, so our students have the best chance at accomplishing the learning objectives. 

This is such an important topic for educators in ensuring each student has the adequate resources to reach the intended goal. I feel like I have moved through varying degrees of the personalities profiled: The Jabber, The Integer, Touchy, and Loner. However, I have typically been the loner, though it has not been a detriment in my career. As the text suggested, once you learn your craft, you do not want someone "hovering" over you. 

Identifying these individual characteristics will be of HUGE service to the students entrusting us in our care. And, if we are unsure, perhaps giving examples… >>>

After earning my BS and MS online, I appreciate the myriads of ways I was required to submit work, ideas, and the interactions with my long-distance students was quite valuable. I am excited to seek out some interesting, engaging subjects on media platforms to enhance and engage my students. I learned it is also important to identify the online students' capabilities with technology and adjust accordingly. We can easily overlook a student located off the grid.