Learn & Grow
Teacher-as-Student = Better Teacher
While I have grown considerably in terms of online teaching this past year, I know I will continue to grow in the years ahead. When I learn and grow, my students benefit. That's reason enough to keep learning, but I also happen to love learning. That's one love that I try to pass onto my students.
Where I was
Reluctant acceptance. I understood that online learning is growing. I understood why. Yet I didn't think it could come anywhere near the experience offered by on-campus instruction. The medium itself is so impersonal, I thought.
Where I am
Awakened. I now have a greater appreciation of what's possible in online learning, and more. This past year, I completed internal online instruction training at my college and then embarked on a series of @ONE courses under the Online Teaching Principles umbrella. The @ONE courses took my online teaching to a new level. My online courses are more equitable, communicative, engaged, dynamic, informed, and human than before--one thing in particular I didn't think was possible in online learning. And my courses are improving each term, each year, as I continue to learn from my colleagues, my students, and from online sources like @ONE.
Where I'm headed
Championing. I'm still growing as a teacher and developer of online courses, but I'm a lot more confident about what online learning can do and my own capabilities to create online courses that better serve the needs of my students. I've begun sharing what I've learned through @ONE with my colleagues, and when I encounter someone who is just as reluctant as I once was, I now know how to encourage that person about online teaching and learning. I look forward to continuing to grow through the opportunities provided by @ONE and the Online Education Initiative.
For a few examples of how I continue to grow, click the Examples link below.
The courses listed below are those that I have completed through @ONE Online Network of Educators professional development, which is coordinated by the California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative (OEI). Four of the courses represent the Advanced Online Teaching Principles certificate coursework provided by @ONE. The fifth, 10-10-10 Communication That Matters, is also an @ONE course. To learn more about these and other courses offered, visit the Online Network of Educators course listing.