The Finish Line

The end at last! Not that I haven't enjoyed learning new skills, but it feels like I'm crawling the last 50 years of a marathon to reach the finish line and finally earn the Certificate in Online Teaching. It has been a challenge. But when I think about where I started I really have come a long way. I had never logged onto an online class before starting Intro to Online Teaching and now I've designed a course!

There were several highlights in the series of classes starting with learning styles and education theories in the first course. As an adjunct journalism instructor my expertise is in writing news, not teaching it. But I was happy (relieved actually!) to learn that many of the activities and assessments I intuitively incorporated into my courses coincide nicely with the various learning styles and good educational practices.

In the second course I really enjoyed working with my team partner on our presentation about the importance of interaction and connectedness between the students and with the instructor. I'd never even opened Power Point until that lesson and quickly became addicted. I also came to appreciate Wimba classroom and plan to use it for guest lectures in my own course.

In the third course, I hated developing the design template. Yes, hated it. But I see the value and having one in place made the last class, Producing Digital Content, so much easier. In fact, everything in all the classes led nicely into the last class which was the ultimate in hands on learning. I am now trying to screw up the courage to propose Literary Journalism as an online course for Governors State University's communications department. I'm confident in the course I've developed, but still unsure of my own computer skills and my ability to assist students if they run into technological difficulties. But I'm going to take the plunge and move forward with the knowledge that GSU has a top notch online learning faculty that can help me if I run into problems.

But there are other important things I learned from this program, things that are less tangible. I now know that I can learn new skills. That may sound obvious, but learning how to teach online is something I never thought I'd ever want, need or be able to try. To be honest, I'd happily give up my cell phone and computer in order to live with fewer distractions. But I really love the idea of everyone having access to a college education, even if they work all day, have three young children and can't make it to campus two or three nights a week. Those folks are why I toiled, sweated, swore and tore my hair out for hours each week learning from my own mistakes how to give them the best online courses I can develop.

And now that I'm done I'll be happy to have a little free time and a social life again!

The Home Stretch

Here we go again. But this final semester of the Online Teaching and Learning certificate program is different than the rest. Rather than reading and learning about the practice and theory of teaching online, we'll actually be developing live lessons. It feels a bit daunting, but kind of exciting. All those articles, discussion posts, group projects and frustrations should come to fruition.

Notice I say "should." Although I'm more comfortable using the technology than at the start of this venture, I'm still not confident I can get it all to work! But I now know that the more time spent playing with the various programs the easier it becomes. As always, finding the playing time necessary to learn is a challenge. But it is vital to make time since developing online courses in journalism and/or political science may very well be my next career move. Tough to say where any of us journalists in transition will land as the news business continues to evolve and  devolve. But with all the changes in our field, it is vital to have up-to-date courses available for students. The online environment could be a great tool to help folks keep their skills on the cutting edge.

I don't expect to have a lot of fancy bells and whistles built into my class the first time out. I'd rather be able to run the course with confidence than live in fear that something will crash and I won't know how to handle the situation. Fortunately, I've found some excellent articles and videos to use. Now I just need to trust my teacher instincts and jump into the online environment. I know the first class won't be perfect. But just like a traditional course it can always be tweaked. We are always learning, whether teacher or student.