e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates
Just saying hello
Hello from Virginia, where it is so muggy you can actually visually see the humidity. I have just started my summer 'vacation' in which I try to spend at least some time as a learner, as I am a instructor the rest of the year. I think the experience of being on the other side of the classroom helps me to be more aware of the challenges that students face.
During a regular semester I teach at least one large (200-300 student) class, as well as some smaller courses (15-20) students. Over the course of my years teaching I have adapted and altered how I teach to try and provide an inclusive learning environment for the very diverse student population that I have. I started as a pretty traditional didactic lecturer and have moved to a more 'guide on the side' format. I have been using a flipped classroom format in most courses for the last few years. At first it was a challenge to get student's to be more active participants in their learning and while some still settle for a more passive role, most seem to find the learning environment to be more engaging.
Not one to just sit back and relax, I want to expand my knowledge of the learning environment which is why I enrolled in this course. As an ecologist who could resist a course called e-learning ecologies? I have never used Scholar before so it will definitely be a learning experience. I wonder if this is how freshman feel when they are first introduced to Blackboard (our LMS)??
Hi Dee,
It is funny that students often find lecturers boring and might even complaine about this. But when flipping they all of a sudden have to be more active in class, and then some might complain that they have to do alle the work learning themself. They have never learned how to learn.
LMS can be hard. I have been trying to figure out the one we are using for several years. Scholar is very different from what I am used to, and not as easy to figure out as Coursera that you understand right away. By Coursera is maybe a bit limited when it comes to more social learning.