EDLD5368+Course+Reflection

EDLD5368 Instructional Design is about learning the principles to design an effective professional development and online learning environments. Online learning is a 21st century skill that is spreading rapidly in the U.S. as well as internationally. Educators would benefit in utilizing virtual learning to design and implement online courses as it allows them to reach students in a unique and non-traditional manner. Online learning is flexible, accessible, and unconstrained by meeting and time constraints. “Teachers are discovering a new way to reach students, many of whom were not successful in traditional schools and courses. Administrators are exploring ways to offer a wider range of courses to students and professional development opportunities to teachers” (Watson, 2007). By using the Backward Design approach educators will be able to articulate the goals to best reach student’s needs and “to begin with the end in mind to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now so that the steps you take are always in the right direction" (Covey, 1989). Designing the course within the Schoology online classroom environment was a challenge. Learning to design a learning management system course with the end in mind was different than what I was accustomed to. This references standard TF-II.F.1 assist teachers as they identify and apply instructional design principles associated with the development of technology resources. However designing with the end in mind proved to be beneficial after I completed and reflected on the entire course.

The first week of the course I had to take a learning style inventory to determine how I thought my students learned best as visual, auditory, or tactile learners. I also had to complete a teaching style inventory that gauges my personal preferences and teaching style. The results were enlightening and helpful as I was to begin to assess how I would design my online learning course for my fourth grade students. I found out that most of my students are visual learners with a one point difference from being auditory learners. Visual aids compliment my way of teaching because this is how I teach the most in my classroom my providing visual examples to my students. To begin I first had to look at a variety of data and TEKS that had the most area of need for student improvement. For my course I chose social studies which also focuses on reading skills. After I identified the desired results for my online course then I was able to pinpoint the big understandings, questions, and knowledge and skills that would have to be taught during my course. This references standard TF-III.A.6 to use and describe methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support use of distance learning systems appropriate in a school environment (refer to NETS for Students). Last but not least, I was able to choose and design activities that would show evidence of understanding. According to Wiggins and McTighe (2000) it stated that, "Understanding is about transfer, in other words. To be truly able requires the ability to transfer what we have learned to new and sometimes confusing settings. The ability to transfer our knowledge and skill involves the capacity to take what we know and use it creatively, flexibly, fluently, in different settings or problems, on our own. At the end the performance-based, formative, and summative assessments were uploaded into Schoology for student implementation. This references standard TF-IV.A.2 to assist teachers in using technology to improve learning and instruction through the evaluation and assessment of artifacts and data. Students were able to experience more authentic learning experiences and assessments. They were more engaged with one another as they participated in a non-threatening learning environment. As I reflected on the task each student was able to participate simultaneously and give their individual perspectives on various class discussions. Students also had the capability to work collaboratively with one another, participate in a virtual environment, and to keep an electronic portfolio where they can share their work with others.

With the knowledge I’ve learned in this Instructional Design course I plan to continue to further educate myself about online learning. I want to expose my students to a new way of thinking and learning and to prepare them for the workforce. This references standard TF-V.B.1 continually evaluate and reflect on practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning. Educators need to be informed of the tremendous impact that online learning has on student success and achievement as they become familiar of how students can best learn online. “In addition to helping address these shortcomings, online education also can facilitate mastery of essential 21st century skills by stressing self-directed learning, time management, and personal responsibility along with technology literacy in a context of problem solving and global awareness” (Watson, 2007). While I enjoyed learning how to create and setup an online learning management system there are still some questions that I have that are still unanswered. I would like to see how other school districts are utilizing online learning with their students particularly at the elementary level. How would online learning best benefit Title 1 school districts? What barriers and challenges would most hinder educators from designing and creating online environments for students and how to confront those misconceptions?