Andrea Buls

Comment on Melanie Pariseau's post: Engagement of online courses or blended are reliant upon active learning!!

Comment on Itzel Gutierrez's post: This is so true!! I am tech challenged and I have struggled with this aspect of teaching. The training for instructors just is not there and I have had to teach myself or reach out to coworkers for help and guidance!! Sad, but sometimes students become my teacher when it comes to tech issues!

I have found that I enjoy teaching so much more when active learning is involved!! I love seeing and hearing the students debate and discuss the topics and thoroughly emmerse themselves in the course information. This also lends itself to students building relationships with their peers!

I feel it is so important with the students to acknowledge their feelings and emotions and I think at times that can be a struggle. This is especially difficult when I feel the student could be achieving so much more!

Comment on Lori Riordan's post: Agree!! Using this technology appropriately is key for instructors!

I definitely feel that online teaching creates many challenges. The biggest challenge I face is student engagement. I try to require that cameras are on and include question and answer sessions but it seems to always be the same few students that paticipate.

Comment on Tim Pope's post: 

I could not agree more to your comment! The lack of self motivation in so many of our students is difficult at times. Sometimes I feel thaat we want it more for the student than the student themselves. I have found that many times this perception is due to extranious issues that I am unaware of in the students life. Helping to motivate and encourage these students to achieve their goals can be so rewarding!

Comment on Lesley Fielding's post: 

I think developing a rubric and providing good examples for all of these forms of social interaction is imperitive so students understand etiquitte as well as proper referencing etc.

I was completely unaware of microblogging. I feel that, in the right situation, this could be a useful tool for student to student and others to interact.

Using videos and other media definitely enhances the learning experience for students.