There is nothing important than continuous learning even if you have a double PhD. Everything that is new from you is news and you are going to learn something that you do not know. In my last blog, I am going to reflect on my past experience, learning as well as development and future application of the course. I gain a lot of information from my colleagues from my PBL 15 as well from weekly webinars.
Starting from the importance of digital literacy which was the first topic. I have learned that the impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been quite significant. This widespread adoption of technology has completely changed how teachers teach and students learn. Teachers are learning how to teach with emerging technologies tablets, iPads, Smart phones, digital cameras, computers, while students are using advanced technology to shape how they learn. Student perceptions in the study believe that technology helps them retain information better.
Beshaw, D. (2014) stated that teachers are learning how to teach with emerging technologies tablets, iPads, Smart phones, digital cameras, computers, while students are using advanced technology to shape how they learn. The ONL has also introduced to different tools that I can use to engage my students digitally to simplify my work and to make them understand their work easier. Today’s technology enables students to learn at their own pace. For example, almost all apps allow for individualized instruction. Students can learn according to their abilities and needs.
Another electrifying topic was Open Learning and Sharing with the education sector. This is very important given that academia are moving to the digital direction. The good news for teachers and students is that a new category of resources, open educational resources has emerged over the past several years, and some universities and teachers are finding that it can offer a lot of benefits when used effectively. According to University of South Carolina (2016) Open Educational Resources are educational materials offered freely and openly for anyone to use. They are usually licensed to allow sharing, remixing, or customization. The resources can include textbooks, full courses, course materials, modules, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other resources used to support access to knowledge.
From there we move to the very interesting topic which talks about Students collaboration. Each and every PBL group member was willing to lead this topic given that it was one of the most popular on our field of expertise. According to Nuiteq, (2017) Collaborative learning makes students with different backgrounds, race, or up bringing, to work together. They come together in a setting that maybe would not be possible if it were not for collaborative learning. In my understanding collaborative learning methodology is ideal for children that have difficulties in a social setting. I fully agree with the latter on terms that group work can be an effective method to motivate students, encourage active learning, and develop key critical-thinking, communication, and decision-making skills.
University of Birmingham (2014) also list benefits of students collaboration as building trust, learn from peers, gain confidence, as well as developing social skills. Sharing these benefits with your students in a transparent manner helps them understand how group work can improve learning and prepare them for life experiences. In my experience as a former face to face lecturer now online lecturer, bringing students students together helps solve problems as quickly as possible. One of the things I notice was that group working can make study more efficient and fun. Working with others enables you to pool your ideas and see problems from different perspectives.
Last but not least, we discussed the last topic which focus on Blended learning as well as constructive alignment. According to Morisson, (2016) online courses are nothing new, but the idea of delivering them to students who are physically present in the university is unusual. It means that all students at Imperial will have access to business education, which is something they want and gives them an enormous flexibility,” he adds. In my experience as an Online Lecturer and a student for ONL 181 I learned that blended learning is a natural development to the growing accessibility of e-Learning, online resources and the continued need for a human component in the learning experience.
SUMMARY
I am so happy to be one the students who were part of ONL 181. It was so educative and integrated. my group members were so patient with one another. I will recommend everyone who is in academia across the world to do this ONL course so as to improve his/her skills. Now I know about plenty of tools used to advise my students, namely Zoom, Flipgrid, Padlet, eBooks, mind-mapping, etc. I am looking forward to using each one of these tools wisely and so as to help my student not only pass my course but understand the content.
References
Beshaw, D. (2014) Understanding the importance of digital literacy in our life time. Norlan images. FL.
University of South Carolina (2015) What are OER. Creative Commons 4.0 Available from https://guides.library.sc.edu/OER. Accessed on 28 November 2018.
University of Birmingham (2014). Why work in group. A journal of Business. Available from https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/metallurgy-materials/about/cases/group-work/why.aspx. Accessed on 1 December 2018.
Morisson, N. (2016) The impact of blended learning on a classroom, transform today’s classrooms, and explores how students and staff benefit as a result. Journal. Forbes pp 03-07. Available on https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2016/01/29/blended-learning-the-future-of-higher-education/#7acdfff3a2c7. Accessed on November 27 2018.
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