On Empty! I literally came into online teaching with no tools outside of “Read this chapter, view the slides, and take the quiz”. My previous trainings with teaching online focussed on mastering the learning system, such as Blackboard or Canvas, but I never considered much else outside of posting material and providing the bare minimum; and even the bare minimum seemed demanding. I truly did not know that there was a different approach to facilitating online learning where an interactive, adventurous, and exciting learning community could be created for the benefit of all involved.
On Full! I have learned more in this course within six weeks than I have over many years. I transitioned from not having any tools to enhance learning, to having several. In addition, I have moved from providing mundane instructions to setting up an approach where students are more interactive with the material, each other, and with me. Most valuably, I put a lot of thought into everything that I do now. The academy has taught me to not waste a moment... every interaction is an opportunity to build community, trust, and a solid foundation for online learning success.
With a full tank, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the places where one can go! I must start this portion of the reflection with reference to Mike Smedshammer! He was an excellent example of how to provide support, encouragement and warmth to an overwhelmed learner, such as myself, and he truly brought out the best in me. He made me want to learn; I was always excited for what was next, and his feedback was skillfully provided. There were times that he would point out positive value in my work when I did not even know it myself, even though I did the work! It is my hope to keep his example in mind as I relate to my students moving forward. His interaction with me made most of the difference in my being able to complete this Academy. I have already made changes to my online class, but for those classes that are not designated as "online", I still implemented what I have learned in the academy, and overall, the feedback from my students has been encouraging. At one point I was dismissive of the idea of introducing new tools into my space because it felt like "one more thing on my plate". This Academy has since changed my approach, where I feel empowered to introduce new experiences into my classroom, and I have already shared much of the information with other instructors as well. Lastly, if I could have make it happen, this would be a required course for all online instructors in my department, and certainly highly suggested for remote instructors.