Reading the short article "Engaging the online faculty: Effective Modeling Strategies for Success" by Donaldson and Conrad (2010) before the class gave me a 'shallow' feel. I did not get the gist of the article, not until Mdm Ng elaborate on it, thus making me realized there more depth in Donaldson & Conrad's Model than I initially thought! Which there's a sudden spark of light. This is what I've been searching for! Getting students to engage in an online learning seemed a daunting task to me as I have no idea (the proper & systematic way) how to manage it. It was through Mdm Ng that I 'saw' that the model actually blend all the learning theories in different phases. Which also planted in the me the idea that we need to blend all learning theories (Behavourism, Cognitivism, Constructivism) into our T&L approach. That we should not have the idea that there are learning theories that are obsolete. (Somehow, through the different courses, with so much emphasis on constructivism, I kinda had the idea/impression that Behavourism is a dinosaur theory). But coming back to the implementation of this model, I would say I'm still quite blur about the implementation from A-Z (the light was just a sudden spark... T_T). I always find that the application of educational instruction is very abstract! If you think sciences are abstract, think again! Educational instruction is equally abstract! If not more!
However, looking back at all the learning approach and theories we had heard, talked and learned, applying anyone of them seemed a distance away. Every T&L related model/ approach sounds great, but implementing them is never easy as knowing about it. It took Yee Hui months to learn about using wikispace & finally implementing them after much planning. I think Te has been using webnode for some time. And all these does not happen just over night. Reflecting upon myself, guilty to say, I have not tried as many ICT tools as I ideally thought I would since I signed up for this course. I think the biggest obstacle to this is we need time to explore and understand the tool, thoroughly consider whether this tool could fit into our pedagogy or how should we customise to serve our T&L purpose.
EDUCATION IS VERY LONG AND SLOW PROCESS!!!!!
十年树木，百年树人。。。
(Rough translation: It takes ten years to plant a tree, but it takes hundred years to educate a person)
Did I get myself into one of the most challenging career?
Yes, it is a challenging career. Now with the existence of technology, it gets more challenging (not difficult) but the best part, you are able to see the results developing in front of you.
ReplyDeletenothing can beat you if you are strong enough! even our career full of challenging, but i think nothing can beat you because you are so outstanding, Don't put the target too high, just do what you think that can benefit your student. you can do it.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, we are facing many kind of challenge, especially using technology tools to teach students, because they are new to it. But we have to handle it because we are the "vanguard" in our school to use IT teaching.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Ng, teaching is most challenging career if you are a responsible teacher.
ReplyDeletep/s: actually set up a class wikispaces is not that difficult, you can set up a simple one first, and add in sources gradually from time to time, what i can said is maintenance take times. So, don't worry, move your first step.