Vicki Williams created an Online Learning Readiness Student Self-Assessment. It can be found on The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's web site. The questionnaire asks the participant many questions which vary from students computer abilities, awareness of their personal learning as well as having the proper computer. The Self-Assessment states: "Before enrolling in an online course, you should first assess your readiness for stepping into the online learning environment. Your answers to the following questions will help you determine what you need to do to succeed at online learning. Post-survey feedback will also provide you with information on what you can expect from an online course." (Williams 2010)
What are the challenges for you as an online student?
A majority of courses I have taken have been face to face or
blended learning. I am currently facing two challenges as an online student. (1)
I am a procrastinator who does well with specific direction from an instructor.
Without specific deadlines during a 3-month course, I find it difficult to
motivate myself to complete assignments. (2) Work / sick balance combined with
not wanting to negatively affect students created problems with the time I set
aside to complete assignments. I became sick mid way during a 7-week course. Due to circumstances beyond my control I was the only person in the company
available to teach the course. It affected my study time. I would go home and
sleep instead of study.
How are you going to deal with these challenges?
Challenge (1) has been mitigated / dealt by having a motivating conversation
with my instructor. By the end of our discussion, I was given a specific deadline
to complete course material. This deadline motivated me! I have studied 2 hours
each night since the conversation. In the future, I will need to set specific
goals at the beginning of the course to help me achieve specific deadlines. What
I learned with challenge (2) is I need to contact my instructors when I
encounter problems that could affect my ability to complete a course.
What has been your most important learning to date?
I have been reluctant to utilize technology for work and in my
personal life. I believed that due to being raised without electricity and
computers, I was a luddite and computers, blogging, the internet and even eLearning
was all beyond my abilities. I was introduced to Carol Dweck’s Fixed Mindset
vs. Growth Mindset in the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP). Carol
Dweck found
"Effort is
key for students’ achievement, but it’s not the only thing. Students need to
try new strategies and seek input from others when they’re stuck. They need
this repertoire of approaches—not just sheer effort—to learn and improve
(Dweck, 2015)"
Based on her writing, I chose to challenge my beliefs. My most important learning to date has been about how humans have the ability to change their beliefs. For me, it was a gradual and sometimes painful experience. However, there was success in the end, by spending time learning the basics of computers, the internet and our work place LMS. In 2016 it took 20 hours to create a blog. Unlike my preconceived idea that a blog was a waste of time, this blog became a creative outlet that gave me the venue to express my passion. I no longer believe I am a luddite and now find myself wanting to explore technology!
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The Power of Belief
The way we understand our intelligence and abilities deeply impacts our success.
Works Cited
Dweck, C. (2015). Carol Dweck Revisits the
"Growth Mindset" (Vol. 35). Education Week.
I have spent a large part of January 2018 ticking off boxes on a checklist. This checklist is an instructor resource I created to ensure crucial steps are not missed when preparing for our 7 week class. At the end of 7 weeks, students have learned all the necessary skills on how to drive trains, trouble shoot equipment faults on trains and respond to train specific emergencies. To prepare for this course, the list is 4 pages long. It was inspired by a mentor, Norm who would often say "A course starts weeks before you meet your students. Imagine showing up and you don't have a train to teach your students to drive?" In this Tedx UBCO talk, Paramedic Andrew Mills explains how attempting to multitask can kill, and how delegation and team management can save time and lives. All it takes? Taking time to slow things down and utilizing checklists. We show this video with our students and prompt a classroom discussions. Covering the spirit and intent of the Tedx UBCO talk which is slowing down and utilizing the lists we provide for them. This Monday morning did not start off well for two reasons. (1) I am not a morning person and a 6:30 a.m. start is difficult. (2) After making a cup of coffee, I checked my emails and then reached for my list, the list that has everything on it. It was gone! It was not on the desk where I had left it on Friday! If I had taken a moment and "slowed things down" and followed the advice from the video, I would have noticed my checklist had slipped off my desk and was lying between my desk and plant. Instead I spent 15 minutes trying to retrace Friday's steps. In the end, it was found, but had I "slowed things down" I would not have lost those 15 minutes...
