Final reflection on the module

I based my reflection on answering three questions: What?, So what?, and Now what? (Reed and Koliba, 1995). What? The module, E learning in Health Science Education, gave me an opportunity to engage with e learning literature and peer conversations in order to apply the knowledge gained in my own working environment. Feedback and conversations on blog postings by my peers and facilitator facilitated my understanding of the process of implementing e learning as a component of teaching and learning activities. The blogging furthermore assisted to improve my reasoning skills, in terms of my decision to use the specific e learning component in the blended learning approach, I decided to choose. The literature brought me back to the fact that the world of teaching and learning is different today than what it was a few years back, and indeed are the students different. So what? I learnt to use the clues from my peers, articles referenced by them and their ideas and experiences to build upon. The active participation between peers and facilitator, team networking and resources sharing assisted me and motivated me, although it was a bit quiet at the end and the chat room was deserted... The ADDIE model gave me the starting point which I needed on this journey of discovery. Now what? Now I can use my new knowledge and understandings to implement e learning activities, even if it is on a small scale, to promote e learning and lead change in the working environment. Reed, J. and Koliba, C. 1995. [Online]. Available: http://www.uvm.edu/~dewey/reflection_manual/ [2014, November 02].

Part 2 of assignment

Hi! Not quite sure about the reflection part. According to the module outline part 2: "Part 2: Critical reflection and collaboration on the development of the e-Learning intervention (Blog and Online meetings) You will be expected to reflect on your blog on the progress of your development of your e-Learning intervention as well as the use of the ADDIE model. As part of this reflection you will be expected to post a summary of at least one article that you found useful in thinking about the development of your e-Learning intervention. This could be about another instructional design model or very specific to your specific discipline. You will also be expected to collaborate with your fellow students by posting at least one comment on each of their blogs as they outline the progress of their projects as well as the literature they find useful." So I interpret this as the reflection part and it is not part of the written assignment? Ilse

Implementation and evaluation

So, I have implemented some aspects in my small trial, but I have definite expanding plans for the future facilitation of this learning session. I had some doubts about my strategy, but had a WOW moment when I discovered really supporting literature about e-mail discussions as a collaborative learning strategy, e.g. I quote from one article (old, but useful), amongst others (more current, but more or less the same info): "Research shows that by using computers, students become better problem solvers and better communicators. Over a network, using e-mail and sharing files, students have the chance to collaborate and work together with other classmates, peers, and teachers. Networking electronically can help learners create, analyze, and produce information and ideas more easily and efficiently. Networking people "puts an inspiring, enticing, and usable set of tools within reach of the mass of computer users, empowering them to go beyond simply processing information to repurpose, design, publish, and express" (Mello, 1996). Through this increased electronic access to the world around them, students' social awareness and confidence increases. Networking frees them from the limitations of traditional writing tools that often inhibit and restrict writing processes. Learning is then transformed from a traditional passive-listening exercise to an experience of discovery, exploration, and excitement. Students can begin to realize their full potential when they are empowered to contribute and collaborate as a team to accomplish their writing tasks (learning experience) more effectively" Belisle, R. E-mail Activities in the ESL Writing Class. 1996. The Internet TESL Journal, II(12). Available. [Online] http://iteslj.org/ [2014, October, 31]. The evaluation part of my strategy provided feedback on two concerns: i) evaluation of changes in delegates' behaviours (did learning take place?) ii) evaluation of strategy implemented and points taken for future reference. Keep well. Ilse

Where am I?

So I packed the cards out on the table last week, started to do the writing up of all my ideas and plans. I mentioned on someone's blog that I kept on asking myself (reflecting) what will be different from doing the traditional way of facilitating only and introducing an e-learning component to the old fashioned way. Yes, the literature is clear about "why", e.g. enhancement and opportunity to develop students' reasoning-, critical thinking-, debating-, reflecting-, participating abilities, also that the facilitator can be in almost constant contact with the students and it provides for the "silent" students who would rather see the face of the computer than the face of the faclitator on a daily basis (especially our generations X and Y - the faces of their cellphones and computers are often their best friends and they prefer this way of communication, often they cannot live without that face). Many more reasons, but this is where I am now, constantly evaluating, still formalizing the developing, but should be ready with an implementation and evaluation plan next week. Good luck to all.

Still desinging, but developing is crawling in...

I have my ideas more or less anlyzed and ready and now to start with developing. Have done the readings in the module, but not yet started to write up, which I think, I must now first catch up with, at least up to designing. Good luck for the week.

Analysis done - busy with designing

My analysis of the idea I have was done and it appears, from the survey feedbacks, as if I will be able to apply online learning, eventhough the one day training session is a very practical one. Some of the theoretical aspects can be integrated with the practical skills which will be learnt by means of online facilitation prior to and after the practical session. I also determined that video clips will be very effective to prepare the delegates for the training session.

Hi There

Hi Everybody

This is just to say that I am still around and will be more visible from now on.

Ilse 

Change

The discussions today really gave me some motivation to start engaging with the academic staff at my facility to slowly but surely introduce e-learning as a powerful teaching and learning strategy in (and out of) the classroom.