At the start of my online teaching journey, I felt weary about using an online platform to deliver instruction. I came to realize that this sentiment was due to me not taking online courses myself before. My experience as I progressed through the other courses in the online principles of teaching certificate challenged me to think differently by exposing me to many different resources that filled my lack of knowledge in online instruction. Each course had valuable information that made me see the endless possibilities to teach online.

The biggest realization for me is that online learning does not replace an instructor. To me, this was my biggest concern since I had never taught online. What online instruction does is substitute the instructor from being physically present to becoming virtually present. One of the many concepts learned was that online learning can also be welcoming by using adequate language that addresses all student needs. Most important, building that presence by sharing my thoughts using different forms of media enhances a course and engages students. In a nut shell, I'm still on the other side of the screen!

To further my growth, I need to complete my online course. Currently, it is in the works and I have to say it is coming along. I have become more aware on how to make content more engaging since many of my students use different forms of media in their personal lives. Knowing this and implementing the different resources learned, I feel confident enough to use these in my teaching. As my online course comes to fruition, I will have the opportunity to actually teach online become a reality.

Another step I need to take in the near future is become more involved in online teaching community events. At the present moment, I have not attended any professional development outside my certification courses as I am in the certification stage.

At the start of this journey not having taught online was a set back, but now I can say that I feel ready. I know it will be a rough start, but one learns by trying and making mistakes.