ReflectionOnline+Pedagogy

**A Reflection on online pedagogy as it is similar to and different from face-to-face instruction.**

 * As teachers wanting to enter the virtual realm it seems prudent to consider the similarities and differences in a course offered in the traditional face-to-face format and one offered fully online.

What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of teaching in each environment?** Face to face teaching allows the instructor to read body language and pace the talk accordingly. One can quickly size up the learners experience and make modifications in instruction. Courses that require lab work are much easier face to face in that you can be sure all learners have the working tools available to them.

Online teaching gives both the instructor and students some freedom of schedule. You can pace yourself though out the week as you fit the course into your life. Online courses remove the obstacle of distance and are an easy fit for students who work full time. Students in online courses are given the opportunity to learn with folks from the Global vs. Local community. There are many more opportunities for the online learner; we have courses of study open to us from many universities all over the nation at reasonable cost.


 * What are the differences and similarities of teaching in each environment? Compare online and offline classroom techniques.**

In the face-to-face environment teachers tend to rely on resources and relationships found within the building. Peer groups are formed from the peer group sitting nearby and discussions are within that closed community. We see a lot of textbook driven timelines, discussions, homework, and projects. Students who are willing to speak out while others sit back and hopefully at least absorb the information being discussed can dominate conversations/discussions in the class. You are less likely to get the opinion that might be 'out there' because many students are nervous about expressing thoughts too different from their peers. In face-to-face classes your meeting time is set; Day1 Period 3/4 with some homework outside of class. Students need to fit to that schedule period, not much flexibility there.

In the online classroom there are checklists, papers, projects, etc to hand in but there seems to be more opportunity for all to be included in the discussions. In the online discussions everyone must respond and all have the opportunity to read and learn from each other. The dynamics of the online classroom seem to be more student centered in that the instructor can 'stay out of the conversation' as others offer opinions and share ideas. I believe it is much harder for the face-to-face instructor to stay quiet and not offer opinions and help because they are right there in the heat of the discussion. The online classroom has the potential to offer students a global classroom. The online classroom removes some of the walls of time, relationships, and place. I would think it would be quite cool to know you are a member of a class with folks from other states and that there would be so much more to share. I personally like the way online classes fit into my schedule and not the other way around. I would have had a much more difficult time completing my masters and these courses if they were not online. I also would find it difficult to teach at a local college if the courses were not online. The online environment allows me to be available for my students 24/7 for better or worse.


 * What is the most important part of your pedagogy? How does this play out in an online environment?**

I believe the students should be taught to be responsible for their learning and the teacher needs to help by facilitating the learning process. Teachers need to look at how they can differentiate in such a way that students can learn what they need to learn and beyond if ready. Teachers also need to allow students to express what they know in a 'strengths and interest based' environment. The online environment allows this self-pacing and can easily be set up to allow choice. Teachers can offer resources and readings that the students can pick and choose from. They can choose articles of interest and also read more then the required. Students have to take responsibility for their own work skills. They need to figure out how to pace themselves, make choices in how to interact with the information being presented, and decide how to present what they have learned.


 * Can online delivery improve the quality of teaching?**

Online delivery can improve the quality of teaching. The very nature of online learning is a constantly refined process. When teaching online you tend to constantly adapt to the new tecnologies that become available. An online teacher spends much time 'online' and therefore is more aware of the changes in delivery that constantly evolving technology brings to us.

Online delivery is hard to shut off, you tend to be available 24/7 and yes it can take over your life if you are not careful. I know that as an online teacher I tend to feel guilty if I have not turned my computer on and peaked into my class. Students in an online class work at all different hours; therefore teachers need to be available at all different hours. Students and teachers only need to use a private thread, email, the forum, etc to call for help and or clarification.
 * Can online delivery improve the access to teachers?**

Some of the artifacts I would like to discuss are; Journaling, Discussions, and Collaboration. It is my opinion that these components are probably the strongest underpinnings of the online class. Journaling allows students to reflect and share what they know in a chronological order. One can see growth and understanding of the topic as students write their thoughts over the duration of the course. The summary of journaling below comes from an article about Journaling for stress management but I believe it explains how journaling improves the online experience also. Online discussions are a backbone of the online class. Students are presented with material and reflection questions. They read the material, process it's meaning (internalize) and then have an opportunity to share their thoughts with peers. Everyone is expected to share their thoughts online, you rarely have the opportunity for all students in your face-to-face class to share their thoughts about every question or topic being discussed in class.
 * Select artifacts that represent difference and similarities, advantages and disadvantages.**
 * //Journaling allows people to clarify their thoughts and feelings, thereby gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a good problem-solving tool; oftentimes, one can hash out a problem and come up with solutions more easily on paper. Journaling about traumatic events helps one process them by fully exploring and releasing the emotions involved, and by engaging both hemispheres of the brain in the process, allowing the experience to become fully integrated in one’s mind. (http://stress.about.com/od/generaltechniques/p/profilejournal.htm)//

Online classes can set up areas for collaboration and the fact that you are collaborating in a global environment can greatly enhance the possibility for learning. The use of wikis and other collaborative writing/discussion tools make it easy for students to 'meet' and discuss. They do not need to set up a visit where they all meet at a certain time and certain place. They can throw their thoughts up on the wiki and rush to work, others can read and respond to their thoughts when they also have that time to study.