Teaching & Learning Online

This week we'll have the opportunity to talk with representatives of Florida Virtual School.  As you know, Florida is probably the leader in online learning and teaching.   Odds are that you'll be doing more of both during the coming years.

Learning Online
What does it take to be a good online learner?  There was a great article last week in Edutopia: Seven Digital Learning TIps for Students. Here's part of it:

Here are seven attributes that [students] should have or need to develop for successful online learning:

1. You have to have a sense of self. 
Successful learners online have an awareness of metacognition -- self-motivation, self-starting, and ownership of one’s actions. In other words, they reflect on how they learn as well as what they learn.

1. You need to be able to manage your time wisely. 
They must be able to lay out their tasks with a critical eye, plan them accordingly, and follow them through to fruition -- many times without someone looking over their shoulder.

1. You have GOT to know how to collaborate. 
This is a biggie. More than an understanding of technology, more than a perfection of writing skills, the ability to collaborate is one that must be used comfortably online.

1. You need to be able to set goals for yourself.
 Being able to see the target and backwards plan towards that target is vital.

1. You need to communicate well in writing.
 The entire online community is based on the language of words and how to communicate them effectively. One cannot use texting language and expect to be heard. A student needs to use their best level of writing.

1. You must follow the community norms.
 Just like a classroom has a set of rules, so does an online class. A student must function within the norms and rules of netiquette set up by the instructor (or, better yet, agreed upon by the class itself).

1. You must be your own advocate.
 As slam poet Taylor Mali once wrote when asked if they would be tested on the material, “If not you, then who?” So does it go with being one’s own advocate. If you won’t ask the questions, take control, and make sure your voice is heard in a positive way…then who will?

Still not convinced that online learning is similar to your traditional classroom? Well, as I wrote about in my book, business leaders and college professors have identified 13 skills as those most needed by students entering college or the workforce. They are as follows: 

Collaboration, Independent Learning, Communication, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Understanding Bias, Leadership, Questioning, Persuasion, Goal Setting, Sharing the Air, Compromise, Summarizing

Teaching Online

Do you have what it takes to be a good online teacher? Your module this week has a short quiz that will help you determine that.  Rather than say you'll never teach online, it is probably wiser to acquire the skills and attitude you need to do it.  There is little doubt your future includes some virtual teaching.

photo credit: aperturismo via photopin cc
photo credit: William Brawley via photopin cc