Tonight was our first WebEx class for Literacy and Technology. A multitude of material was covered; the class framework, activity reports, blogging, wikis, high achievement assignments (HA), readings, reflections, tutorials, discussion forum. I'm sure I missed something, but you get the gist (my sound kept going out...very frustrating). This was my first experience with any type of online instruction. As a result I was a bit apprehensive about how much insight I would gain.
As the class proceeded I found it hard to receive the information that Dr. S was verbalizing. This sounds like a strange thing to say (to me it does). So, I found myself thinking this. I wondered why I was thinking this. I think I came up with an answer to why I was thinking this.
Nowadays collaboration takes place by any means [as we saw tonight]. Email and text...that's been my game so far. Now I find out about wdydwyd, blogging, and google docs (we used google docs for the first group project); it's like being reborn. This influx of new information has my brain feeling like it is on the Spin Cycle. These bits of information are spinning around and around aimlessly and not really forming any cohesiveness with what I already know [or thought I knew] about technology. So, this is truly how I felt. But, back to my cunundrum; why was it hard for my brain to receive the information?
Upon thinking about why I thought this, I have come to the conclusion that, up until now, I have taken "traditional" classroom instruction for granted. The instructor is physically present, classmates are there, and there is a vibe in the classroom that is almost palpable. This vibe can usually be credited with one's assurances of "getting it". This vibe is missing online. More than the echo, It is was the lack of that "traditional" classroom instruction stimulation that made it hard for my brain to receive the information. Online instruction adds a new dynamic to my "traditional" processes for learning.
As you can gather, this week saw many firsts for me. Groups had to collaborate for purposes of producing Digital Cards that are representative of their 'takes' on technology and education. I thought we were just going to do the traditional emailing of drafts back and forth until all were happy. Then, a fellow group member pulled up Google docs and we started to revise cards online so all member could see. I was entrigued. I never knew that I could watch a presentation being updated online. I suspect that this is the scenario that I can expect to encounter for the next 5 weeks, Very cool!
I am going to learn so much. I am not apprehensive. I am going to embrace all of these unfamiliar tools of learning and get the Spin Cycle under control.
I agree with you Doug. It is a whole new way of learning. Without a teacher physically in front of you, it changes your learning "technique." I found myself really hanging onto every word (a bit hard with the echo) that Dr. S said. It is for sure new, but exciting way to learn.
ReplyDeleteDoug, I like the personal vibe of your writing. It reads as conversational and honest. That is something that I am working to accomplish in my own blog writing.
ReplyDeleteI think your reflection on your experience of the Webex session this week was insightful. I think many of us can relate to your feelings of uncertainty and being out of your comfort zone. Good for you for taking the time to reflect on your feelings about the experience in order to identify what dynamic was causing them.
I wonder if we will ultimately come to find this learning format even more stimulating than traditional classroom models. I am feeling like that more and more as I get more comfortable with our course tasks. I wonder what this may mean for our future classrooms and students. Could we use technology to this extent with our students?
Thanks for your post.
Take Care.
Tara