How will I know that I have achieved my personal learning goals and met my own expectations for this program? What will be most symbolic for me will be the day I walk across the stage to accept my graduate diploma. When I registered for this program my goals were to add to my knowledge and skills as a DL educator, and to come away with a diploma that validates my role as a DL teacher and officially certifies me to work in distance learning schools. Since this learning journey began I have set weekly goals, each relating to success in the areas of attendance and participation, weekly learning activities and assignment #1 major project. By meeting these goals I have seen a growth in my knowledge, attitude and skills in relation to online learning and teaching. As I move along through OLTD I expect to see my continued professional growth as I work toward fully meeting each of the program objectives. I am also looking to transfer what I learn to my own teaching and course development. Presently my math 8 course is delivered either paper based or through Destination Math a fully developed online program from Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Learning Technology, supplementing both if needed with Successmaker or Khan Academy. I hope to be able to develop my own an online math course and further develop my online PE courses to meet with best practices. Upon completion of this diploma program I hope I will come away feeling that I am an inspiring online educator, the evidence of this I believe is seeing all of my students engaged and successful distance learners whether they are working through a fully online course or a hybrid/blended program.
Close with a question you have regarding the future of "the journey..."
Recently I have been reflecting more than ever on my role in distance learning. As a teacher in a hybrid distance learning school students are continually entering my courses and work can be submitted online 12 months a year. Unlike a teacher in a face-to-face classroom one comes back from holidays with a large number of assignments submitted that need to be marked and emails to respond to, there is never any down time. My questions are: How can I best develop my courses to make my workload manageable? Is the Ministry of Education going to address the workload of distance educators, there is presently no class size limits, if not then is the move to possible 12 month schooling and the new BC Education Plan for 21st Century Learning their way of managing the progression to more online learning?
On another note: Once we complete this graduate diploma we qualify to complete VIU’s Master’s Of Education (leadership) graduate program. When I first registered my goal was completion of just this diploma. I wonder if my thoughts on this will change over the next two years and if so how?
Close with a question you have regarding the future of "the journey..."
Recently I have been reflecting more than ever on my role in distance learning. As a teacher in a hybrid distance learning school students are continually entering my courses and work can be submitted online 12 months a year. Unlike a teacher in a face-to-face classroom one comes back from holidays with a large number of assignments submitted that need to be marked and emails to respond to, there is never any down time. My questions are: How can I best develop my courses to make my workload manageable? Is the Ministry of Education going to address the workload of distance educators, there is presently no class size limits, if not then is the move to possible 12 month schooling and the new BC Education Plan for 21st Century Learning their way of managing the progression to more online learning?
On another note: Once we complete this graduate diploma we qualify to complete VIU’s Master’s Of Education (leadership) graduate program. When I first registered my goal was completion of just this diploma. I wonder if my thoughts on this will change over the next two years and if so how?