13. Final Reflection

My PCOE goal:

My goal is to learn how to design effective online learning experiences for our students. Having professional training in online teaching can also help me grow as an educator.

Important things I learned in this program:

• 1. The importance of Learner to Learner interaction in an active learning environment.

  2. The relationship between active online learning and the instructor's presence.

  3. The importance of student motivation in deep learning and constructive activities.

Why are they important:

• 1. Traditional education emphasizes the Learner to Content and Learner to Instructor interaction. They are sufficient for building factual and conceptual knowledge. To deepen students' learning and knowledge application, we need to implement Learner to Learner interaction. Learner to Learner interaction promotes higher-order thinking. It is the foundation for creative thinking. All my class projects require students to create original artwork. Guiding them to think creatively is one of my aims.

  2. The ultimate goal of teaching is to develop students' knowledge, skill, and learning capacity. In a learner-centered environment, instructors' role has shifted from providing answers to being expert questioners. While writing activity instructions, I need to make it clear to students that my role as a facilitator rather than just a content provider.

  3. Course content that is relevant and important to learners can promote students' engagement. Intrinsic motivation is a condition for deep learning. Without adequate motivation, no matter how well the course design is, it will not affect them. In this course, I learned a few more strategies to motivate students. My old technique is to let students choose their own design topics. I discovered that I can also use online discussions to motivate students. Using a discussion board to promote reciprocity and cooperation can help keep students connected and motivated.

Going forward:
In my course design, I will make sure the Learner to Learner interaction is well structured. It supports active, collaborative, and constructive learning. I will make sure my role in the classroom functions as a facilitator. My presence is to support learner-centered learning and higher-order thinking. My duty is to help students develop metacognitive skills and their capacity to learn. I will continue to make sure my course projects and activities will serve as a motivator to ensure students’ success.

Additional thoughts:
I enjoyed the peer interaction in this course. I have learned a lot from my peers. It will serve as a model for my future course designs.