EDLD+5368+Instructional+Design

· ** What benefits do you see in educators knowing how to design and implement online learning? ** The benefits can be endless. It’s just a matter of educators knowing how to design and implement online learning properly. With proper modeling and guidance educators will be able to provide instruction in a way that I’m sure many of them never even considered when they started teaching. Educators will be able to reach those students who may not have access to a particular class in their location, they will be able to reach students in their class who are away from class because of illness or discipline reasons, and they will be able to get otherwise silent students involved by using online learning. Like I said, the possibilities can be endless, if the right approach is taken, such as using the Understanding by Design approach described by Wiggins and McTighe. Beginning with “the end in mind” will allow teachers to design effective online lessons that will benefit all students (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000). · ** How will you professionally use your course that you designed? ** The course I’ve designed is already in use. My district was recently awarded a T3 grant in which we received interactive white boards, IWBs, in our 3rd – 5th Bilingual classrooms. I’ve used the course for online collaboration between the teachers who are located at 4 different campuses. The course has served as a common place for all participants to become actively involved in the learning process as we continue to learn about using the IWBs. Anything from articles, discussions, to staff development needs have been placed within the course and allow participation from all teachers. As we continue to learn about the IWBs, I plan on adding to the course, as it is an easy way for teachers to access everything from one spot. · ** Will you integrate online learning in your role as a teacher/staff developer? ** Integrating online learning will be vital to my role. Next year I will be supporting 4 or 5 campuses instead of 2, so I will be spread very thin. My position will shift from one supporting teachers to one supporting Instructional Coaches at the campuses and relying on them to pass on the learning. I met with two of the coaches I will be supporting this past week and began discussions about how I will support them. Since I will not always be available at a moments notice, I mentioned using video tutorials/ online learning that explained basic concepts. This summer I plan on creating more lessons that will be available online when teachers return to campus in August. · ** What questions do you still have about online learning? ** Being rather new at presenting online learning, there are still many questions as one might expect. I think at this point there is still little research on the best way to provide such learning, so I have to give it a shot and learn as I go. Being in an elementary environment, I also wonder how many courses or lessons will be provided for the younger students. I, myself, tend to think of online learning for older students from high school on up. Another concern that always seems to come up is with where to house the course material. Is there a website like Schoology that we can use to create course? Is it secure enough? What student information will be posted? If we choose to use something in district, what are the space limitations? Server space has been a hot topic when it comes to our district and our teachers having enough storage space to create projects. Will teachers be discouraged because lack of space? Will the district lighten up and allow creativity to flow? There are many questions that are yet to be determined as well. · ** What will you do with this new learning? ** This course has helped me to strengthen my lesson design skills as I created my course within Schoology. My district has been using the principles of Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2000) for the last couple of years. Not being in the classroom or having to develop lesson plans for my training for the most part, has hindered my development. I see the importance of designing with the end in mind and plan on using it as I begin to develop online lessons in order to support the heavier load that I will soon bear. I also plan on using my new learning to teach and guide teachers as they begin to embark on creating online lessons. My district is on the verge of using an online management system, which will give all students and teachers an online presence. Teachers will be able to post lessons, discussions, etc. online as part of this package. This will be a new adventure for our district and I will be one of the main supports asked to provide training. This course has given me a headstart in my next adventure.

Wiggins, G. & McTighe, J. (2000). //Understanding by Design.// Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall