I learned that incorporating the use of technology in instruction has many benefits. However, the type of technology used as well as the intended use should be examined before it is selected. It should also be evaluated during and after instruction.

How do you use blogs, microblogs, and media-sharing sites to build a sense of community in your online class?

Blog assessments should focus on the quality, relevance, and depth of students’ contributions, rather than simply counting posts or replies. Criteria should match the assignment and course learning outcomes and may include understanding, analysis, reflection, writing quality, and meaningful interaction with others.

Instructors should provide clear guidelines and examples of strong posts. Students should explain and develop their ideas beyond simple agreement or disagreement.

This module helped me reflect on the importance of engaging students both socially and motivationally. I learned that creating an inclusive classroom, encouraging interaction, and connecting course content to real-world situations can help students feel more involved and motivated to learn. I intend to apply these strategies in my environmental science classes by incorporating more interactive activities, encouraging peer discussions, and relating environmental topics to students’ everyday lives and communities. I also want to continue exploring ways to make learning more meaningful and engaging for all students.

I learned that self-paced online learning can be a benefit for a student with good self-mastery and time management skills, as it allows them to work ahead and possibly finish their program in a shorter timeframe. But simultaneously, self-paced learning can also be a challenge for a student without these skills, as they can fall into the pitfall of procrastination, leading to poorer quality work and needed revision time.

What I learned is that students may say they are familiar/comfortable using technology but not realize that the technology they use is very different from technology that will be utilized in the course. So an instructor will need to provide helps and guides for the technology s/he uses in the course.

I was reminded that written communication is even more important in an online course, because there is no face-to-face opportunity to make announcements or have discussion. Communication must be clear, complete, and concise.

Microblogs help students focus their thoughts by requiring them to communicate in short posts. Students must identify their main point, select relevant details, and remove unnecessary words. Reading and responding to classmates’ posts also helps them compare perspectives and practice clear, concise communication.

I have learned that students need to be prepared prior to starting the online course. They need to have technology and familiarity with operating it. They need to dedicate a block of time for study and treat it as an appointment that cannot be cancelled. And I have learned that teachers can increase their online presence by recording regular videos for announcements.

This module helped me understand that assessing students’ use of media hosting and sharing sites depends on the assignment and its learning outcomes. 

Students could submit a recording early in the course and another near the end, then compare their delivery, pacing, organization, and confidence. I would use a rubric to assess their performance and ask students to reflect on their progress. Peer feedback would also give them opportunities to practice constructive criticism and learn from one another. This approach would help me assess both the finished work and students’ growth throughout the course.