I am just about to embark on my exploration of content development in D2L. I have for many years worked with Blackboard and have come to know it well. I wonder how user friendly D2L will be. I will answer this later in the week, in the meantime.
While skiing this weekend, at beautiful Mt. Washington, I thought about the assignments for this week and next, in relation to what I could add to the content of my own courses, looking to further engage my students while looking to reduce my work load. First, I need to add a photo to my instructor’s page, and look to review and update a few of my other pages. Next, I thought about adding a video or videos, that relay what I cover in the intake meeting, for student reference. What online audio/video tool would you recommend? Another item that came to mind was a FAQ page. Although as I thought about all the questions asked I realized that most have been individualised, other than students misplacing the information with their Blackboard access information. Having this in Blackboard would not be helpful. My thoughts then went to perhaps looking to create a site, such as a Weebly, where students can easily go for information. Another idea that came to mind is a resource page where students can share online sites they have used. I could add this to Blackboard, but I would be the one adding the content and having to check to make sure the links were still active. If I had this in a Weebly students could add links and I know they would tell me when a link was outdated. But would students actually go there to add this info? As I thought further, what stood out as important, is using my time wisely to create something that students would find useful. What came to mind is asking my students’ opinions. I could create a survey, which I would then email to all of my students. In this way the course becomes more student directed, as they play a part in its development. What do you think?
You may be asking yourself why I would be thinking about course development while skiing. Well, when skiing alone you have a lot of time to think, both as you swoosh down the mountain and as you take quiet rides up the chair lift. What better way to spend it then thinking about my passion, teaching and learning in an online environment. The key, is that I am reflecting on my teaching and using what I am learning in OLTD to help guide me.
Jane J.
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/345126688/">Jasmic</a>
via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a>
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
Later in the week:
Well my exploration of D2L has been a great learning experience, both in creating in D2L which I find very user friendly, to the use of Blackboard Collaborate which does not always work as one hopes. From a teacher's perspective, when using Blackboard Collaborate with students, I now know that first they will need to download certain files before they can access the classroom, so best to give them enough time to get this sorted out and hope the parents are all right with downloads. As a teacher the ever familiar words run through my mind, always do a run through before you present. Troubles my partner and I have had with Collaborate have been, the inability to access Collaborate from one computer so having to borrow a computer which thankfully worked fine, the classroom you created does not seem to allow you moderator privileges and finally the most troublesome for me, not being able to share documents or my desk top. Luckily the latter problem seemed to solve itself after I uninstalled some programs. So preparation is key to successful use of Blackboard Collaborate.
What have been your successes and challenges this week?
Jane J.