Reflecting On Part 1!

Going in to this course, I was extremely nervous and even felt somewhat overhwhelmed. While I am familiar with the online world, I had limited experience with WebCT and noe experience at all with blackboard learning. Each week as I tried to navigate the course I felt like someone with a blindfold on trying to find their way through a mansion. Each week it began to get easier. I still felt like I had the blind fold on but it felt like I had an assistant guiding me through. I am much more confident now than I was at the beginning.

I'm amazed at the wealth of information that I have gained in just a short time. In comparison with my experience with F2F courses I would say my online learning experience so far has been much more valuable in the fact that I had more responsibility for my learning experience. I also find that online learning is a better fit for me because first of all being at home allows me the opportunity to be more focused and flexible. It also accommodates my need to do a variety of things at one time. I'm also pleased that the online environment still appeals to my very social being. I find that you can communicate in a variety of ways. I also find that the online community allows for a less intimidating environment for communication.

Taking the online surveys for both the teaching and learning style was very beneficial. I will constantly use these tools in online teaching. I will also use the information learned about online learners to design a course that caters to all learners. Also as I move forward I will continue to search for a connection between my learning style and my teaching style. I'm excited to see what's to come........

Learning Style Vs Teaching Style

I found it quite interesting that Professor Engle introduced us to learning styles and then followed it up with Teaching styles. In previous courses I had been exposed to the learning styles before but never teaching styles. I found this sequence interesting because I could not help but wonder if there was a link between the two that she wanted us to make. I'm still not sure if that was the goal in presenting the information in this sequence. However if this was the point or not, it sure started me to thinking.

I found myself wondering if an individuals learning style influences their teaching style. I could be completely off base here but it seems to me that your learning style would influence your teaching style at least a little. I mean if you really think about it both your learning style and your teaching style are part of your personality and therefore have to be related in some way. My opinion is that each teaching style appeals to a certain learning style. If that is the case I would assume that a person would teach the way that appeals most to their learning style, at least in the beginning of their teaching career. Don't get me wrong here I'm not saying that a person can only have a teaching style that appeals to their learning style. I do believe that individuals are capable of diversifying their teaching style to accommodate their students needs. I just can't help but believe that their learning style has to shine through just a little in their teaching style.

Tell me what you think...........