As posted as a question in my “How Am I Going to Get There?” post. I am not sure I will really know. I can only assume by that point that the goal posts will have been moved to some other point on the field and we as a profession, or perhaps just me personally, will have some other lofty goal in mind.
That said, some indicators that I will have achieved my goal in becoming an inspiring online educator may include: a greater divide between the time that I spend teaching and the time that students spend learning; a wealthier expanse of tools from which my students can draw on for self-directed learning; as well as a greater confidence on my part that I am leading myself, my students, and my peers down the correct path.
In my Socials 7 classes I am often sitting in the middle of the room, spinning around, looking for someone to help. Often, they do not need me, and I am almost at a loss of what to do next. These moments are only fleeting as there is always someone whose writing I can edit or whose research abilities might be lacking. This is possible due to the project/inquiry based format that I have employed in this course. It is this format that I would like to see myself apply more of in the other disciplines that I teach.
Though I currently use and have had experience with many online and program-based applications, I am constantly on the prowl for new and better programs. By better I am referring to programs that allow for more interaction between students, that allow for various levels of abilities, and of course programs that will not crash on the school or home networks.
Last year, when our school committed to an all-out blitz on Inquiry-based learning, I put myself at the head of that initiative. I realized very quickly that my limited experience was not enough to answer all of the questions that came flooding in as teachers tried various ways of reaching this goal. I realized some time later that the ‘fluidity’ if the Inquiry process did not simply apply to the students but to the teachers as well. There need to be constant discussions and comparisons of practice in order for us to get through this new stage in our teaching.
I am hoping that my knowledge of, and confidence with, both Inquiry as well as Online Learning will have a much more solid footing by the conclusion of this program. In keeping with my metaphor, I am hoping that in the end I will be able to create a multi-course, gourmet meal, with all the trimmings, confident that my guests will go home feeling full and satisfied.
Nostrovia (as my father used to say at the table)
Andrew