Challenges in the creation of my course
July 11, 2009 by janed12
This is a picture of my backporch where I work on this class.
What is challenging me the most in the creation of my own course is writing discussions or forums that get the students to think and respond to each other. Since I am looking for many reflective types of answers in some of my questions, it is difficult to come up with questions that allow for responses from other students. However, in my first module, all I am really trying to do is get the students to meet and read about each other. They are still getting use to the format of the class, and I am concerned with them being comfortable with the navigation as well as getting some bibliographical information from them.
I have always had a problem with creating that open ended question. I think when you know the material and you know the answer, it can be more challenging not to slant a question to the answer you are looking for.
We are actually using reflective types of question in this class as well, and I think that everyone is able to answer a question and reflect and probe deeper as required. But often, after I read a response, I agree with it completely, but have nothing significant to add. Many times there really is nothing more to say. I not sure that is a bad thing.
I do not want students in my course to feel pressured more to come with a witty and clever answer, especially if the response is reflective and should be spontaneous and honest. Since my course is about self improvement, I feel that the reflection and probing is being done, even if the response is not deep nor does it teach something every time.
However, I agree that there needs to be learner-centered work in my course, and I am struggling to create that type of work. I wonder if anyone else is having this difficulty as we all have such different types of course.
Jane (4)
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Hi Jane,
I think their has to be a certain level of trust among a group of students to have a great discussion; maybe even some disagreement that they feel free to share. I think this is especially difficult in the online environment as digital messages seem to always be taken more harshly than what is actually meant – humans communcate so much by body language and voice inflection that doesn’t make it onto the printed page…
Jim
Jane, I was roaming around in your moodle class, and I am impressed with your supportive presence that is evident already. I felt ’safe’ after reading about you and your heroes, and welcomed by your story about your positive friend. I am no expert, but I think you are a natural when it comes to creating community. I am also struggling to create learning activities that will demonstrate community and bring my students into it. Anne
Anne,
You are so sweet and I really needed to read your comment and it was a great boost. My class is really so personal, it lends insefl to community. But thank you. I quickly browsed thorugh yours and was so jealous. Your is beautiful and so extreme,y well done….and it is done. I think I could spend hours and hours and still find new things to add.
thanks you again my friend,
Jane
Hi Jim.
Sorry I missed this earlier. In regard to your comment that about comment discussions being more harsh on-line. I agree to some point that comments can be misread easily on line. There is an art to being able to communicate all the inflections normally done thorough tone and inflection along with body language. But we have to remember the students of today are used to this medium for communication. I reflect on the old style of love letters from the turn of the century. We may think the formal language was dry and stodgy, but I am sure there were innuendos that we may not get now.
Jane
Hi Jane,
I love your point that responding just for the sake of responding or trying to constantly make your responses so ellaborate can take away from flow of the discussion and perhaps even make it irrelevent. I suspect your experience in this class has lead you to that conclusion. I’ve felt the same way at times. Perhaps given the nature of this course it makes sense, but I agree that in other environments, a less stilted discussion format might be appropriate. Good to know I’m not alone in that particular struggle.