Reflections
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young.
The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."
- Henry Ford
I started out my graduate journey in the fall of 2007 contacting Stella Porto and asking a cluster of questions about the Masters Distance Education (MDE) program. What a help she was at calmly discussing my alternatives. I knew when I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (2007) from University of Maryland University College that I wanted to continue my education in the teaching realm as I was beginning to instruct some courses online at the institution where I worked, as I am a Microsoft Certified Master Instructor in Computer Applications. The Masters Degree of Distance Education (DE) with the specialization in Distance Education Teaching and Training (DETT) really seemed attractive as it focused on online teaching in a variety of settings, with teaching and training methodologies appropriate for DE. In addition, the job potentials were diverse such as online teacher, trainer, tutor, pedagogical expert, online librarian, program evaluator and subject matter expert, all within DE.
With my excitement at a peak, I opted to go at a slow pace working towards a certificate first, taking one class a semester. Therefore, by the spring of 2008 my boat had begun to sail. My greatest fear was intimidation from the global powers that were involved instructing with the MDE program. How could I possibly interact and ask questions of the pioneers in DE without stumbling over myself? With much anxiety, I started with UCSP 611, Introduction to Graduate Library Research Skills, and OMDE 601, Foundations of Education. Thomas Hulsmann and Lisa Blaschke set the stage for my learning by defining DE and its traits. Remarkably, it was a pleasant experience and my anxiety began to decrease as I completed each course one-by-one and by the fall of 2009 I had my certificate. HOORAY!! What a hurdle that I had jumped over and a feeling of accomplishment. My confidence was in check, my anxiety was at a controllable level and most of my feelings of intimidation were replaced with respect for the experts in the field that instructed and guided me. Each brought something different to the table to add to my foundation of knowledge that continues to grow today.
I cannot say enough about all the things I have learned in the masters program, but let me make my best attempt. As mentioned earlier, I instruct online courses so being a student myself in the online space really puts things into perspective. To elaborate, in OMDE 610, Teaching and Learning in Online DE taught by Dr. Susan Ko, she provided suggestions to increase participation in the asynchronous learning environments and discussed both the positive and negative aspects of using rubrics. She also reviewed the constructivist theory, which works well with DE. In DETT 607, Instructional Design and Course Development in DE and E-Learning, Dr. Mauri Collins continued to reinforce the constructivist theory as she taught me about learning design, particularly what a syllabus should include, how to present subject matter in the online format and the need for prompt feedback.
DETC 620, Training and Learning with Multimedia, instructed by Dr. Olaf Zawacki-Richter and Dr. Jill Fresen gave me more insight about selecting the right multimedia when instructing online. Piggybacking on this course was EDTC 650, Special Topics in Instructional Technology with Randall Hanson, which gave me hands-on experience with Web 2.0 technologies. OMDE 603, Technology in DE and E-Learning with Professor Rawson allowed me to further dissect synchronous versus asynchronous technologies to establish which ones work better in the online environment. To my enlightenment, the Learning Management System that I presently use, Blackboard, fared well using the SECTIONS model, thus reinforcing that I am on the right track presenting information to students. This is important as teaching in the face-to-face environment turns an instructor into a guide on the side.
Zane Berge, Ph. D., instructed DETT 621, Training at a Distance, and expanded my thoughts of instructing beyond the traditional educational setting into the business arena. OMDE 606, Costs and Economics of DE with Dr. Thomas Hulsmann, DETT 611, Library and Intellectual Property in DE and E-Learning with Ilene Frank, OMDE 608, Learner Support in DE and Training with Jane Brindley and Christine Walti and DEPM 604, Leadership in DE and E-Learning with Michael Beaudoin, each helped me develop professionally as they highlighted elements that I have a strong propensity to incur in real-world situations. Specifically OMDE 606 gave me an in depth look at the costs that go into designing, building and maintaining an online course, while DETT 611 gave me an excellent insight on intellectual property and copyright. OMDE 608 discussed ways that I can support my learners so they can be successful as DEPM 604 focused on leadership roles that may occur in the DE sphere.
As demonstrated, the MDE program has helped me develop immensely, both personally and professionally and has instilled in me the viability of DE if the correct pedagogy prescribed is used. Of special note from a personal standpoint is the value of online discussions. To expand, one of the issues that I struggle with as an instructor is class participation. I was able to see, first hand, that even in the lack of physical presence, there is a reality that social bonds and friendships can be formed and learning ensues from a global standpoint as the learners share their knowledge, perspectives and even cultures.
As I continue to instruct in the online format and as a veteran online learner, I have assembled the following list of characteristics necessary to be a successful online student: have self-discipline, self-direction, persistence, time-management skills, ambition, determination, flexibility and the ability to multitask. Please do not consider this list as exhaustive. Yet I feel the need to mention these as I work with students on a day-to-day basis and they continuously ask me what it takes to be successful in an online course and if it is easier than face-to-face. I can speak from experience the diligence it requires.
In conclusion, something important for me to say is even though this may be my final course for my master's degree; it is by far not my final learning experience. Instead, the culmination of my learning has provided me with a plethora of information to make me not only a more successful online instructor, but also has instilled in me that being a lifelong learner is paramount in today's vibrant education field. This intense training has prepared me to continue my instruction, focusing specifically on distance education as I instruct at the institution that I presently work.
