I
have just started a formal blended learning MA module: Web Based Learning and
Teaching for my professional development. I love my MOOCs – but occasionally I
also enjoy the shape and feel of a formal course. I enjoy being with real live
human beings in a classroom. I love the buzz of real conversation – and I am
always fascinated by seeing how other people organise the teaching and learning
– the bonding and belonging…
The
course itself is delivered by JG and JD (I must check with them before I use
their names on the web) – and they delivered a wonderful experience which made
me as a participant feel welcomed, enabled and confident that I understood the
course and its assignments; that I would be supported if I struggled; that I had
an idea about my personal direction through the course; and, most importantly,
that I was excited – I wanted to do this thing! I also spotted some lovely
strategies that they used to help me on this journey:
Ice
Breaker
There
was a brief ice breaker activity where we were asked to sit with somebody that
we did not know – share our contexts and reasons for doing the course – and then
to introduce that person back to the rest of the class. Immediately most of us had to move around –
had to attempt human contact with at least one person – and then had to make
contact with the rest of the group. Simple, friendly – effective.
Hopes
and fears
After
an introduction to the what, why and how of the course, we were given a green,
red and yellow post-it – and asked to write our positive thoughts about TEL
(technology enhanced learning); our concerns about TEL; and our hopes for the
course. We stuck these to the whiteboard at the front of the class (we had both
electronic and conventional whiteboards) – the tutors read them out… and we
responded.
I
thought this an excellent way to enable people to voice their hopes and fears
without having to make themselves immediately vulnerable. If we wanted to, we
could ‘own’ a point – or we could just join in with the discussion…
Finally
I am feeling…
To
round off the class JG said, ‘I am feeling…’ – and pointed to a participant –
who completed the sentence: I am feeling excited by the course, I already have
an idea what I want to do for my presentation and my project; I am feeling …
Overall
the feelings were full of excitement and optimism – but we were also empowered
to say if we were worried or afraid.
I
am stealing these immediately!
So
what is WBLT?
We
will be building our own course on course site: https://www.coursesites.com/webapps/Bb-sites-course-creation-BBLEARN/pages/index.html
- a free online service offered by BlackBoard – to experience the process of
designing and building a managed, virtual learning environment. We have to give
a presentation on one new tool or TEL-enabled strategy that we have trialled
with volunteer ‘students’, we will have to complete a reflective journal – and we
will have to write a 3000 word meta-reflection. All good stuff – and I will
hope to tinker with the final essay and offer it for publication somewhere – so
that is an additional bonus.
And
finally
I
prepared for WBLT by engaging with Hybrid Pedagogy’s #moocmooc: http://www.digitalpedagogylab.com/subversion-and-instructional-design/
- which I also enjoyed enormously… but which I could not give sufficient time
to because of my heavy workload. I am hoping that the added gravity of a
physical course will anchor me and make sure that I actually do all the work –
all the assignments…
Here’s
hoping.
I
thought that I would blog about my journey through WBLT – because that’s the
best way I know to make the learning conscious to me. It would be great if some
of you out there followed me – gave me some tips and tricks – asked me some
stuff to get me thinking harder.
Best,
Sandra-on-the-web
