Yeah, its Friday!

This week not a whole lot went on...Lori went on vacation for a week, and I worked on the "Grad Project". I finally was able to get ahold of her today, and she said that everythings looks good so far. I am going to start editing the folder on BB and get everything ready so that the students will have about 2+ weeks to get everything accomplished.

Basically I am asking the students to take all the info they have learned throughout the course, and create a well written Lesson Plan (LP) and Teaching Aid (TA). Then they will submit it on BB & share it on a separate DB with thier peers.

Also, we decided that I would facilitate the DB for next week. The topic is Individual Differences. Here is what BB says:

DB#3 Individual Differences

Due date initial entry: Wed., June 3 by midnight.
Due date 2 replies: Fri., June 5 by midnight.
Possible point value: 25 pts. (15 pts. initial response; 5 pts. each for 2 replies to classmates).

Read Chapter 3 Influences on Learning in our Miller, “Instructors and Their Jobs” textbook. Especially note the information in the sections on Learner Frustration, Instructor’s Personal Influence, and Influence on Instruction.

Then respond to the following discussion topics/questions:1. Discuss the kinds of diversity among students you have experienced in your classroom.2. Explain the significance to the instructional process as it relates to such factors as the learner’s attention span, fatigue, and interest.3. Connect the relationship that should exist between objectives, learning activities, and the instructor’s evaluation/ assessment process.4. Talk about an incident in your class where individual differences came into play and how something you read in Chapter 3 might help the situation.5. Read your classmates’ discussions and respond (2 required to earn full points) with any helpful hints/suggestions for classmates

I am concerned though, because 2 students haven't been doing their work for the course, and I feel like I should contact/email them about it. I hope that the discussion goes well - the students don't seem to be that interactive with one another (or what I am used to).

Oh - I almost forgot! Destin has mastered rolling over! She has been practicing for a couple of weeks, and now can be called a pro. Here is a recent pic (we always have photo shoots):

Discussion Board Drama

Wow, what a great weekend! Pat had all three days off work, so we were able to clean the garage, watch movies & spend time together as a family ~ it was wonderful!

I started thinking about some of the different online classes I have had starting as far back as four years ago, and I tried to compare/contrast what I liked about them and what I didn't. I realized that just as every f2f classroom has different rules, strategies, and procedures - so do online courses. All of my online classes were not exactly the same...they shared similar characteristics, but were all very different. The class I am teaching this summer has some very different procedures that I am not sure I really like.

One example of this is the way discussion board forums are set up. Students must post by a certain date/time, respond to 2 classmates by a certain date/time, and the db forum closes at a certain date/time. Then to top it all off, the instructor told me she doesn't post on the db herself! I'm just not sure how that is promoting a community led classroom online when there is no discussion b/t the students and thier instructor. Maybe the dialogue is just exchanged on thier assignments when they are graded. I know that in the future, for my online class I would like to respond to every student (which I know is impossible if there are alot of students) & set up class chats where students can ask questions like once a week. Just in the last couple of weeks, I have had a few students call me asking questions that could have been answered via chat room or simple Q & A sessions.

Fabulous Friday!

Yeah, its Friday! I can't believe its already Memorial Weekend! We definitely don't have any plans - except for plenty of rest & relaxation. This week, Lori & I spoke with one another via email & phone - and figured out what I could do for my training workshop. We decided that being in charge of the Graduate Project would be a great idea. She was able to provide me with last semester's info, and I have been tweeking, building on it, and creating some of my own resources for our students. I have also had 2 students in the class call me this week with tech issues/course questions - which is great! I really feel that I am "in charge" alongside with Mrs. Cochran.

I spoke with my Dad yesterday, and he was asking what I would need to do in order to be "Dr. Melissa Roach", which I am not really sure - I guess I would have to ask my advisor & do some research. I'm not sure that my husband is going to support me in getting it though - my Masters has been pretty expensive on its own!

In about 3 days time, I was able to get the Graduate Project stuff the way I want it. I set up a wiki for it, and now I am waiting on Lori for her final approval. I am sure I will need to edit some things, but I am relaxed knowing that I know what my training workshop is going to be for the class. My next stress factor is writing the 3 papers for the summer - 1 for my internship, 1 for my PDP and 1 for my indep. study class. I have started research for my indep. study class, but feel that I am still not getting the right amount of info I need...so back to looking for more resources!

Monday, Monday

What a weekend! We went to Patrick's cousin Daniels graduation on Sunday. Destin did wonderful - but when it came to anyone holding her, all she did was cry! Everyone gave their opinion - shes sick, teething, colicky, etc. I think she was just tired, because as soon as we left she fell right to sleep.

The online class is going good. I think we will have 10 students in the course. I wish there was a way I could organize my emails better though - I have so many! I have been discussing with Lori about what I can do in the next five weeks - facilitating a DB, setting up a training workshop (a big assignment for the internship), grading students work, etc. I am having difficulty with finding students work once they submit it, but I hope I can talk with Lori about how to view/grade it.

I think I understand why so many of my instructors in the past required students to use their UCM email address...almost of the students in this class have different emails that they are using - and it can get confusing unless you add them to your address book, which is what I am going to have to do.

One thing that I am worried about with this course - is that I have never had the course. So I feel that I am kind of learning along with the students, without having to do all of the assignments. I wonder how I can become an instructor if I haven't really had the experience doing so. Most of the information I have somewhat learned about in the past like MLOs and LoKs.

I'm not sure I like how the due dates for the course are all different. Some assignments are due on Mon, some on Thurs, or Friday. I like having everything due one day of the week. My experience with online courses have usually always had things due on Sunday. Then the next day, Monday, a new weeks worth of assignments/DBs/etc would be posted. But I suppose every instructor/class is different and has their own way of setting up their classroom.

Destin is 3 Months Old Today!

I can't believe Destin is 3 months old today! She is the light of my life & I couldn't be happier...she's dancing/kicking her feet & smiling at me right now!

My internship had a good start Monday - I like how the class is only 6 weeks long, so that more information can be learned and evaluated.

Let's get started!

Its been a week or so since I last posted my spiel so I thought I would give an update. Since last week, Lori Cochran & I have emailed one another to get the summer course started. On Friday, we exchanged several emails including: info about me, the syllabus, a quiz (that I got to create on BB), and a how-to document for the online course. The class starts today online - so wish me luck! I am really excited about getting started with this summer course - I can't wait to learn more about teaching online...

I hope that from this experience, I will be able to get a job teaching online myself. How great would that be?! Getting paid to teach online, while staying at home with Destin. Here is a cute pic of her - she is always smiling at mommy & daddy!

My First Post

I have never really blogged before, but I think this will be a fun experience. On this blog I plan to talk about my experience with my UCM internship, my life as a new mommy and everyday happenings that occur.

I am really excited about starting my UCM internship because I will be able to experience what its like to teach an online course. In the past I have created mock versions of BB & moodle courses, but this will be the real deal - real students that I can interact with, a professor that I will job shadow & discussions/assignments that I will facilitate. This week I will be exchanging ideas with Lori Cochran, who will be my mentor for this summer internship. I hope that being an intern will be fun and will allow be to grow as an educator. I would love to see if I could teach online in the future. Now that I am a mom I want to stay home with my daughter and spend as much time as I can with her - and what better way than by teaching online?

Speaking of being a new mommy - we had quite a scare over the weekend. Destin started crying for no reason on Saturday night when we went to visit Grandma's house (my mom). When we got home she was running a fever - so we gave her some medicine and she went to sleep all through the night. Sunday morning she was acting fine again, but then in the afternoon her fever came back. Again, we gave some medicine and her fever went away. She seemed to be happy again like she always is...but then that evening she started crying and wouldn't stop for several hours.

Patrick & I were so upset that we couldn't get her to stop crying - she didn't have a fever, and nothing we did could make her stop. She made herself so upset that she threw up! We called the doctor several times that night and she said that all we could do is hold & comfort her. The Dr said if she wouldn't stop crying for another hour we would need to take her to Children's Mercy! But within an hour she fell asleep exhausted from crying. The next morning she was very sleepy, but was a happy girl again. I kept a close watch on her all day - holding her, and watching her sleep - but she was smiling, laughing & acting like her regular self. So, after some observations, I think she is starting to teeth.

At 11 weeks old, Destin has been chewing on her hands, pulling on her ears, chewing on mom/dad's fingers, drooling excessively, etc...all the symptoms for teething. The book, What to Expect the 1st Year stated that sometimes fever can accompany teething, which can start as early as now until 6 months of age. I just know that I never want to go through a night like that again. Pat and I both cried, and kept thinking the worse possible scenario - even yesterday, Pat said he was still upset and needed to find a way to calm his nerves. I was so scared as a new mom, not knowing what to do. I am just happy to say that she is perfect now & couldn't be happier!