Online Myths

I have found that there is a huge misconception about online learning is that the online course work is easier. My husband and children incorrectly assume that because there is more flexibility it is easier and I have all the time I need to do what they want and what I need to do. The truth in fact is the opposite. You have to read the material and teach it to yourself as well as do the assignments, which are reading and writing rather than listening and participating during a class period. Research show that ‘at least twice as much time and effort are needed to teach and learn online compared to face to face.’ (Sixteen Myths) I knew it would require alot of time but I am finding it is taking more than I alloted, so I am readjusting my non-school schedule.

Another popular myth is that online learning promotes isolation. This is both true and false, as with most things it depends on the instructor and the students which is also true in traditional learning as well. For me I tend to be isolated in general, online sometimes it is easier to speak up.

Tests

I am not a big fan of this kind of test. For me most of the questions are very difficult to answer clearly one way or the other. So I took the advice in the instructions and tried to just answer and not think about the questions. When the results came out I was equally a visual and auditory learner. I was a Watching but nearly equally split on Thinking Feeling. I was an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging, which the results say is a rare type. I am not sure what I learned from these tests. I knew I could learn either way, I found it helped during all my years of tutoring, I was able to figure out which way my students learned better and apply that method to them. It is currently helping with my children. I had already taken the Myer-Briggs (and got the same results) and have not figured out how it helps me – I guess I need to go back and reread the results a bit more carefully and see if I can find some more insight.

This week I have been thinking alot about teh differences in online and traditional learning. For me my career has been my children, I have 3 special needs children who need me to be flexible with my schedule. I would find it very difficult if not impossible to take more than one or two classes a semester if I did not have the advantage of all my classes being online. I can schedule my time for school work around teacher conferences, ARD’s, doctor appointments, and PTA volunteer work. This gives me the power to do what I must to reach a point to support my family next year without sacrificing what my family needs right now. Online learning is an awesome thing for me now. However without traditional learning I would have never have met my husband and I would not have this beautiful family. So each learning style has its place in the world of academia.

I thought the first week would be crazy but evidently not as much as the third for my family. I am currently taking 2 LTEC's and will be taking 2 more next semester. This is my first LTEC class and as such I do not have what you would call expectations. I have a desire to learn the new technology so that I can use it in the classroom next year when I start teaching. In my opinion this course has the potential to be really good for that purpose. I look forward to learning and growing through the semester.