Dale Salzman

I learned that professional development can be a workload management strategy, particularily regarding technology related to online instruction. I like the concept of formative and summative course revisions. I like to "fix" things at the moment, while the issue is fresh, I think it makes for strong revisions.

My favorite section of this module is the last, "The Collaborative Online Instructor". The information is practical and valuable.

Some highlights:

1) Build strong group interdependence - building the "one for all and all for one" camaraderie.

2) Keep groups to fewer than 6 members.

3) Establish peer evaluation - peer evaluations are great learning tools for students.

4) Give students control - great way for student buy-in and high level learning

This module is titled "Workload management strategy for online teaching". The first section dealt with the characteristics of a good online instructor. What I learned, and really no surprise, is the characteristics are basical that same as the characteristics of a classroom teacher. Throughout this course I am fancinated that while I'm learning about being an online instructor, the course makes me reflect on classroom instruction, therefore improving my classroom instruction. An unexpected benefit.

I learned that teaching onloine is like being a goog project manager.Online teachers need to have analysis and communication skills, be able to work in a team environment, be calm and have time management skills. These are the same skills required in project management. 

Additionally I found the entire module on workload management strategies to be relevant for all teaching environment. Time is so precious to a teacher, there is none to waste. I always thought that teachers are like salespeople in this way: A salesperson work is never done, they can always do more. More prospecting, more presenttions, more… >>>

There is alot of good teaching information in this module. While I studied the conten, I kept reflecting that much of the information is just as relavent to a F2F classroom and it is in a online class.

The topics for the module are:

1) Planning and goal setting - good information for any learning environment

2) Netiquette: Tone and Attitude - This one is directed for an online class, yet the message of communicate with RESPECT can be applied to all forms of communication

3) Time management - good information for any learning environment

4) Pitfalls Students Should Avoid - good… >>>

The section on "asynchronous coomunication tools" reference 1)email 2)discussion boards 3)wikis and 4)blogs. It's my opinoin these 4 tools are appropriate for F2F classrooms as well as online courses. As a Digital Media high school educator I included these tools in my classes. I used a wiki for all class assignments and discussion board. The students made a personal wordpress to show their work and journal.

There is a great amount of information in this module that I plan to incorporate into my teaching. Some of the ideas/items to include are: 1) Understanding palgiarism 2) Wed resource evaluation 3) Acedemic honesty policy 4) Wikibooks 5) Community of practice and 6) Email guidelines.

My favorite part of this module is the section on Time Management. I really enjoyed the analogy that time is tangible, visual and measurable. The following is taken from the text: 

Students should organize time like they organize space. Students should think of tasks in terms of how they would fit into a given space. Try to get your students to think about time like organizing a closet; if you rearrange your closet, you can always find room for more clothes or shoes. The same goes with time. When students analyze their schedule, clear the clutter and rearrange tasks, room… >>>

In this module, the concept of creating an online community was discussed repeatibly. As a student using online courses, I have never felt the neccessity of participating in an online community where we share personal information. I am not thinking that it is a wrong concept, just that I have never experienced the need. It was suggested that students should provide a introduction that should include: 

• Their name
• Their current job and/or company
• A brief history of work experience
• A brief list of interesting experiences
• What they would like to learn in this course

Another suggestion was to create a… >>>

I am a baby boomer. It is always a good review for me to read about the other generations and their common views and characteristics. It remonds me that common sense or common courtesy is defined diffentently by the other generations. 

In another module I read a comment that resonated with me. That is: The instructor must remember to facilitate, not dominate, the communication process. In my view, instructors who are facilitators and dominators are most effective. My goal is to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge to be able to be a good facilitor.