Technology Adoption
Technology adoption - at the instructor level - is the key to elearning's growth. Yet often, instructors are under served in the development and planning process. I've heard numerous accounts of instructors teaching their first online course...without a clue of what the environment is all about. The assumption seems to be: a good classroom instructor = a good online instructor. This is wrong. Success in elearning is linked to proper preparation, planning, and student focus...not to skills acquired in a classroom.
A few guidelines for instructors new to the online world:
- Take an online course. This is a must.
- Evaluate your perceptions of what it means to teach. Is it lecturing? Is it guiding/facilitating? How can you tell if you are succeeding?
- Join a users group. Talk to other online instructors (if not face-to-face, then digitally). What works for them? What doesn't?
- Start small...but start somewhere. Grow your confidence/skill level with the technology. Don't get over your head with too many new tools. Email works fine for elearning.
- Expand your knowledge base...take a few technology courses...learn Dreamweaver, Flash...or whatever.
- Document your experiences in moving online...journal/blog - anything that allows you the opportunity to reflect on your experiences.
Posted by gsiemens at September 17, 2002 10:22 AM