1. Reflecting on the information covered in this module so
far, how might your instructional methodologies need to change in an online or
blended learning environment?
Good instruction is good instruction. No matter how you cut it, dice it, or slice
it. Whether in a blended, fully online,
or face-to-face course, a teacher with a good handle on pedagogy and the way students
learn is an invaluable asset.
Methodology is defined as:
A body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a
discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures. The analysis of the principles or procedures
of inquiry in a particular field -
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methodology
I don't think that an online teacher's methodology will have
to change that much. All that you have
to consider is how the delivery of the curriculum will change. for instance, if you engage students in a
dialogue or conversation in class, you can set-up a discussion forum in a LMS
to accomplish the same task. In many
ways, it's more advantageous to do so because this requires students who are
normally uncomfortable in a face-to-face setting to interact with their peers
and engage in conversation.
In a sense, utilizing the Blended Model can be more
difficult because you are constantly having to make a decision about what
activity will be most useful, in what setting.
2. What skills and strategies might you improve or expand
upon in order to best support student learning in a blended or online
environment?
I think the best strategy a teacher can use is being
resourceful. There are tons of excellent
materials, videos, images, etc that a teacher can utilize to enhance their
online instructional program. The trick
is being savvy enough to use in appropriate ways.
