As my first course in OLTD comes to an end, I reflect on where I am now in my learning with regard to online learning design. My own teaching and learning approach is collage-like and I'm feeling mid-process. Bits of colourful paper, provocative (in the make-one-think sense) images, paint and soundscapes fill my work/thinking space. I'm a bit scattered, somewhat unfocused yet inspired. I'm curious, a little daunted, nervous and excited. My kitchen is a mess. Dinner too often consists of Thrifty's roasted chicken. Lunch: leftovers. Sometimes I feel like an overturned table - neatly set until the two year old toddles in and with a stroke of the wrist and a cunning giggle, upsets the order. All of a sudden what seemed harmonious is chaos. Entropy! Which is when it is important to remind myself of my persistent metaphor: the spiral. "Reculez pour mieux sauter."
And so I take a step back as ask myself why I'm experiencing this entropy in my learning process.
Online learning challenges me to rethink how I teach and how learners learn. I provides options and ideas for students for whom the traditional classroom/lecture model does not work. I get so excited about the ideas and the possibilities.
When it comes to implementation, I feel like I turn to molasses. I become self-critical because I feel I'm not doing enough. I sense a discord between my potential and my reality. And yet each day I'm doing something new to engage and inspire my learners and address their unique and individual needs. I'm able to identify what is not working for my students and imagine ways using online learning design to make change.
After imagination, I believe the first step toward implementation is collaboration. I was inspired by Ian Dukes' sardine metaphor: an entire school of sardines will change direction when but 15-20% are fully committed to the change.
Or, as Margaret Mead said famously:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
So this is where I am right now: inspired, full of ideas, looking for steps to turn those ideas into action and reaching out to other "committed sardines" who'd like to engage in the learning revolution I feel has begun.
And so I take a step back as ask myself why I'm experiencing this entropy in my learning process.
Online learning challenges me to rethink how I teach and how learners learn. I provides options and ideas for students for whom the traditional classroom/lecture model does not work. I get so excited about the ideas and the possibilities.
When it comes to implementation, I feel like I turn to molasses. I become self-critical because I feel I'm not doing enough. I sense a discord between my potential and my reality. And yet each day I'm doing something new to engage and inspire my learners and address their unique and individual needs. I'm able to identify what is not working for my students and imagine ways using online learning design to make change.
After imagination, I believe the first step toward implementation is collaboration. I was inspired by Ian Dukes' sardine metaphor: an entire school of sardines will change direction when but 15-20% are fully committed to the change.
Or, as Margaret Mead said famously:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
So this is where I am right now: inspired, full of ideas, looking for steps to turn those ideas into action and reaching out to other "committed sardines" who'd like to engage in the learning revolution I feel has begun.