I have witnessed firsthand the changes that are occurring with how our students want to learn. At the high school level, their choice on how they want to learn is not being provided for them. Students “checked out “when I lectured in class. The frontloading of large amounts of information needed at the beginning of the photography course created resistance to learning from my students. This lack of engagement has increased my need to create an online course where students can access and contribute to resources, collaborate with peers, review and practise concepts and showcase their work. If I want to become an inspiring educator and provide my students with courses that engage and challenge them, I need to understand and research what is happening now in online education. Accessing blog sites of current online educators, such as Tony Bates(http://www.tonybates.ca/), Stephen Downes(http://www.downes.ca/)and Nick Rate(http://nickrate.com/ )are an invaluable source of expertise in the field. Through blogs like these, webinars and podcasts, access is available that addresses all aspects of online learning. My course work so far has enabled me to practise skills such as creating blogs and webpages. Exposure to and, most importantly, practice of online tools and skills are excellent ways to gain knowledge. From my 501 course, I plan to incorporate ePortfolios as a platform for my students to showcase their learning. Collaborating with my like-minded colleagues about topics relating to online education creates an enthusiasm and motivation to research and reflect on what will work for my teaching style. My journey to view all I can with respect to online learning is just beginning. The exciting part for me is this: what new aspect of online education will be revealed and how will that change my focus?
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