We are now leaping into Week 4 of our online course. This is a week that contains information that I particularly like. I've gravitated to teaching a lot of reading and writing courses over the years, and many of the courses I've developed have been reading and writing courses. I enjoy teaching reading and writing--particularly reading since I love to read.
I think that reading and writing are very important skills--especially in a university setting. The ability to write can be very very supportive of successful university study. If someone hates to write, university study can be dreary.
I will be teaching in a different setting this week. I'm off to Turkey tomorrow and will be facilitating this week's classes from there. Other than travel time, I'll be online as usual.
I wish every one a great week!
Donna
Monday, October 17, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Week 3
Hello Everyone,
Our Webskills course is off to another week. Everyone did such an excellent job last week with their ABCD objectives--which tend to be difficult to write at first.
This week we're doing some new and exciting things. I hope that everyone reads the example Project Reports and has a much more clear view of the projects that will be due at the end of the course. I think that seeing examples is very helpful.
One thing to keep in mind when pondering projects is to choose something new to try in your class--a new technology tool that you've never done before. Another thing to keep in mind is to keep the project simple! Don't try to do too much. Although you'll come across many exciting and fun tools, don't try to include all of them in one project. For purposes of the project, just include one or two (for example a class blog or a webquest or a wiki). Don't try to do too much. Once you see how your project goes, you can try other tools in your class.
The new task for this week is to create a Delicious page. I think that Delicious is wonderful and amazingly helpful. Another alternative (and a more powerful alternative) is Diigo. If you find Delicious too simple or not meeting your needs, try Diigo.
I hope that everyone has a great week and learns lots of new things.
Donna
Our Webskills course is off to another week. Everyone did such an excellent job last week with their ABCD objectives--which tend to be difficult to write at first.
This week we're doing some new and exciting things. I hope that everyone reads the example Project Reports and has a much more clear view of the projects that will be due at the end of the course. I think that seeing examples is very helpful.
One thing to keep in mind when pondering projects is to choose something new to try in your class--a new technology tool that you've never done before. Another thing to keep in mind is to keep the project simple! Don't try to do too much. Although you'll come across many exciting and fun tools, don't try to include all of them in one project. For purposes of the project, just include one or two (for example a class blog or a webquest or a wiki). Don't try to do too much. Once you see how your project goes, you can try other tools in your class.
The new task for this week is to create a Delicious page. I think that Delicious is wonderful and amazingly helpful. Another alternative (and a more powerful alternative) is Diigo. If you find Delicious too simple or not meeting your needs, try Diigo.
I hope that everyone has a great week and learns lots of new things.
Donna
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Week 1 Is Over and We're Into Week 2!
It always amazes me how quickly the week spass when I'm facilitating this course. It seems like it's Sunday night and I'm sending out the emails, beginning another week, and then it's Wednesday and the week's almost half over. I turn around and it's Sunday again.
Week one went very, very well. I was surprised at how much everyone posted to the Self-Introduction on Nicenet. Yay for everyone! This is going to be an incredibly active and supportive learning community. I just love to watch as everyone joins the conversations and creates a community. It never ceases to surprise me how close course participants become and how much they miss one another once the course is finished.
I think that it is fascinating how closely connected a group of virtual friends can become. I feel a real sense of closeness and connection between the participants of this course--and we've never met face-to-face. One reason, I think, is because people are very accustomed to keeping in touch via technology and virtual communication has become a norm. I think we hold face-to-face meetings equal in importance to virtual meeting. I also think that we've become very, very comfortable with virtual meetings and communication. It is not awkward; sometimes virtual meetings are less awkward than face-to-face.
All of the above works to the benefit of an online course--thank goodness. I think this is going to be a great term.
Onward!
Donna
Week one went very, very well. I was surprised at how much everyone posted to the Self-Introduction on Nicenet. Yay for everyone! This is going to be an incredibly active and supportive learning community. I just love to watch as everyone joins the conversations and creates a community. It never ceases to surprise me how close course participants become and how much they miss one another once the course is finished.
I think that it is fascinating how closely connected a group of virtual friends can become. I feel a real sense of closeness and connection between the participants of this course--and we've never met face-to-face. One reason, I think, is because people are very accustomed to keeping in touch via technology and virtual communication has become a norm. I think we hold face-to-face meetings equal in importance to virtual meeting. I also think that we've become very, very comfortable with virtual meetings and communication. It is not awkward; sometimes virtual meetings are less awkward than face-to-face.
All of the above works to the benefit of an online course--thank goodness. I think this is going to be a great term.
Onward!
Donna
Friday, September 23, 2011
Welcome!!
Welcome to everyone who reads my blog this week. I am very happy to have you participating in our Fall 2011 Webskills online course. I anticipate a lot of fun, communication, team building, sharing, cooperation, and community building.
I also anticipate a LOT of frustration and hair-pulling as you work your way through the demands of this course. Some things will be easy; some things will challenge you. Nevertheless, as you meet challenges and learn new skills by conquering the tasks that come your way, you will be amazed at how much you learn and very, very good it feels.
So . . . I wish you a gigantic welcome! I'm glad you're here.
Donna
I also anticipate a LOT of frustration and hair-pulling as you work your way through the demands of this course. Some things will be easy; some things will challenge you. Nevertheless, as you meet challenges and learn new skills by conquering the tasks that come your way, you will be amazed at how much you learn and very, very good it feels.
So . . . I wish you a gigantic welcome! I'm glad you're here.
Donna
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