Sara Moriarty

I think the 7 principles of learning is very interesting . It is important to understand that there is a viewpoint to be understood from both the student and instructor.

It is important to not make the assumption that all students having technology skills.  Informing the students of the basic technology skills necessary prior to or at the very start of the course is important to their success. 

Appropriate standards of online communication are beneficial for all students in an online course.  It is something I plan to establish at the very beginning of the course. 

A productive study and learning environment outside of the classroom is extremely important, and it is something I plan to discuss with students during the first week of both in-person and online courses. As a traditional student entering college right out of high school, I did not fully understand the impact that environment can have on learning. Looking back, I realize that many of the distractions I experienced during my undergraduate studies were related to not choosing study spaces that supported focus and engagement with the material. Years later when working on my graduate degree I had a better understanding… >>>

Interactive communication is imperative to support online learning environment. 

Meaningful and consistent interactions with students in an online learning environment promote active engagement and result in a positive overall learning experience.

Variation in delivery of subject matter is beneficial for the many learning styles within the classroom.  I think it also prevents the instructor from becoming content with a single method of delivery. 

I was hired as an instructor to teach a course halfway through the programs sequence.  The cohort had been established about a year and as mentioned in the module, it was challenging in the beginning to gain the respect of the students.  Especially, since they were very fond of the previous instructor.  I stayed the course though, setting expectations with follow through and coming to class well prepared with plenty of engaging activities.  I was eventually successful in gaining their trust and respect as an instructor. 

It is very important that the syllabus of the course is clear, concise and accurate so that students can confidently refer to it for information regarding the course. 

I appreciated the module and its insights into modeling, managing, and motivating students. It reinforced my belief in setting and maintaining high expectations for student professionalism. These expectations are first established through my own professional behavior as an instructor and program director. Students who consistently demonstrate a high level of professionalism, in addition to strong technical skills, could be better positioned to distinguish themselves from their peers when seeking employment.