Make your tools your own (comments)
My comments while I was tired and frustated
I read your comment (Glen’s) about what is expected from this course, and I understand your expectations, but sometimes I find it overwhelming. I find, that it is very time consuming if I have to write every single day to my classmates plus start working on the assignments. Right now that I have learned a few tools, I want to concentrate in the assignments I need to complete for this course. So when I log in and check everybody’s blog and reply to some, I see that I have spent 1.5 to 3 hours doing that. So when I finally have time to work on the assignment, I’m already a little bit exhausted.
So, some of the strategies I’m applying to get some of the assignments done, are:
- Ignore for a while the blog entries and concentrate on my assignments. Then if I want to take a break, I take some time to look at the blogs and see if I can get additional ideas. At this time of exploration, I just read blogs and explore around with some tools and I don’t write anything. Then a few minutes later I get back to my assignments.
- One Saturday, I found myself spending 8 hours replying back to messages and when I looked back at the assignments sheet, I hadn’t done anything yet. So, my priority now, is to start working on the final papers (time is ticking) and as I take a break, look at my classmates’ pages to find an additional inspiration to finish my assignments. I don’t know if this is OK with you (Glen).
My comments after 1 hr. rest
I agree with Michael. As a teacher I need to monitor what students are doing. But also if I’m a online teacher, I need to understand that students take an online course for convenience (any time, any where). Some students won’t be able to log in every day, but I would need them to get into a routine of checking the course at least 3 times per week. This will help the students pace the course. If students log in just once per week, they could get overwhelmed and they will tend to give up. We have all found how it works when we don’t log in for a few days.
Right now I’m very emotional because I’m trying to do well in all my courses and also finish all the assignments for all the courses. Sorry, if my messages are too emotional!
November 3, 2007 at 9:53 pm
That is perfect Lili,
Starting this course I really wasn’t sure how much time we would have to dedicate to this. ( yours or mine) It looks like your calculation is about right on the part of participants. I find that I spend at least the same amount of time on a daily basis, maybe a little more. All this is good information if we offer this course again.
I think of the way that I learn new tools and I know that if I have a reason to use a tool it is more likely that I will try it out. If if works well, I put it into my bag of tricks.
Building a personal learning environment is more than just a bag of tricks. I have to put these things together into a system that works for me and then add value. It is necessarily a very flexible system with lots of room for new things but at the same time preserving the value that I have built into the tools that I have developed previously. When I find tools that work together with my existing tools set it is very useful. Once in while I come across a new concept that makes me reorganize my whole personal learning environment.
I am hoping that people are thinking not only about how they will use these tools in their teaching practice but also how they will use them as their own personal learning environment whether that is as a grad student or a teacher or as a resarcher. Probably the best lesson we can teach is by modeling the effective use of tools.
As was mentioned at the MERN forum the other day, there is lots of room for action research and a great need to contribute to the theoretical understanding of the impact of the web based world on teaching and learning.
I think you are in a position to make a very important contribution.
November 4, 2007 at 5:52 am
Hello, I’ve read your blog and appreciate the effort that you have put into explaining your perspective on the course
November 4, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Lili, I have said before, and I will say it again: How are you still standing!?!
I am amazed at how much you are trying to accomplish. I do not know where you find the time or energy.
Part of me wishes that I did not know your work load. That way I could feel sorry for myself, thinking how hard I have it! Alas, there is someone who is always “worse off” than I am.
I fully respect your dedication to your family, job, and grad studies. Keep on chuggin’, because it will be worth it in the end. Good luck!
November 4, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I think everyone’s feeling the pressure. After all, we are all attempting to do an amazing amount of work and learning in roughly two months. I too applaud your heart and effort put into the course. Collaboration is important, but when it comes down to it we are all facing a deadline to complete papers and for myself I really need to concentrate on that. I’m afraid the commenting will have to drop off to accomplish that task.
November 4, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Lili great job. I know how you feel. I am trying to learn how the tools work also and it takes time to learn. Also taking the time to read everyones blog, reflect and comment takes up a large amount of time. My comments willl become shorter or time as I also try to get my paper done and work accomplished also.
November 5, 2007 at 1:23 am
Thank you guys for the comments. I feel better knowing that I’m not the only one on this boat. You guys are awesome!
November 5, 2007 at 3:18 am
I can appreciate how you feel. I don’t think I spend as much time on this course as I should. I have gone to bed and dreamed about this course! (And it wasn’t a peaceful flower-filled dream!) I think we will all get out of it what we put into it. I am impressed with what I have learned so far. I am impressed with our fellow classmates and their willingness to help. But, now I must stop procrastinating and start writing my report cards!
November 6, 2007 at 3:27 am
Hi Nicole,
I have spent a lot of time on this course. I think that’s why I was feeling frustrated. I was thinking that if I spent more time per week on this course, I am going to be walking on the ceiling of all the stress. I’m a perfectionist, and I like to do amazing on everything I do.
I just think that now, it’s time for all of us to reflect on our learning and get everything done, so we don’t have any surprises at the end of the course, if you know what I mean.