Tag: online

(Online) Identity in Postmodernity

I am starting to be a little restless with my blog byline recently; perhaps it no longer fits me or I have outgrown it. The wonderful thing about websites is that they can grow and develop with us.

My current one is:

Research and Practice in Postmodern Learning

This combines my educational research focus with my need to integrate my learning with practice, coupled with a worldview that is increasingly postmodern. Now, almost a year into my doctoral studies, with my professional practice filled with project management, teaching, conferences, and publishing; it may be time for a change.

I want something that will integrate my degree focus, E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning, into this, while still allowing for my academic interests in qualitative research designs, autoethnography and narrative inquiry, and transformative learning as an experience in critical identity formation. Having recently been influenced by the term postmodernity in the text Identity in Question, I am considering:

(Online) Identity in Postmodernity

This feels right to me; what do you think?

Personal Branding, or Rebranding

I was recently reading a college oriented document about having a “personal brand,” and while it was aimed at undergraduates who may have little real-world experience to point to and may benefit from a personal message upon which to focus and highlight their lives in a concise and engaging way, I was intrigued.

I did not read this as an elevator speech, but rather as the little phrase (or tagline, subtitle, or caption) that appears at the top of most blogs. It includes interests, perhaps a value proposition, an idea of what I am passionate about, interests, and such.

I did some brainstorming, and found these common words (and threads):

  • reflective practice
  • critical thinking
  • assumptions
  • paradigms
  • teaching
  • learning
  • postmodernism
  • constructivism
  • qualitative
  • online
  • community of practice

I wonder if it is time for me to revise mine?

Currently, I am using:

Reflective practice in organizational learning, educational technology, and postmodern society.

and I have been thinking about changing it to something more along the lines of:

Challenging assumptions to promote learning and teaching

or:

Challenging assumptions to construct postmodern learning

Now, it is time for some feedback and help with this. I am oftentimes surprised by who reads my blog, and invite some feedback and thoughts here. I have been tinkering with this idea for about four weeks, and now want to decide and have something new to live with and try out. Thoughts?

Online Course Creation Syllabus Completed; Feedback, Anybody?

I completed my syllabus for my Fall online class at NYU,

X75.9901.001. When I was creating this course, I looked all over online and could not find many syllabi that were open and available for review (rather uncollaborative, it seems).

Want to take a peek? Click on the Syllabus link on the Epsilen website I will be using for it. Take a look, but promise you will leave some feedback and thoughts about it! 

Book Selection for “Online Course Creation and Instructional Design” Class

I have finally selected the texts for my Principles and Practices of Online Course Creation and Instructional Design course that begins in another month. They are:

  1. Anderson, T. (Ed.). (2008). The theory and practice of online learning (2nd ed.). Edmonton: Athabasca University Press.
    The book is available printed or free via download at
    http://www.aupress.ca/books/Terry_Anderson.php
  2. Harper, D. G. (Ed.). (2008). Education for a digital world: Advice, guidelines, and effective practice from around the globe. Vancouver: Commonwealth of Learning & BCcampus.
    This book is available free via download at http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/5312

I reviewed countless printed and physically published works, and all of them lacked something or another. I found the Anderson text via searching online, and the second one was referred to me from one of the authors, Sylvia Currie.

Let the teaching and learning adventure begin!

theory-and-practice-of-online-learning1Education for a Digital World

Principles and Practices of Online Course Creation and Instructional Design

It is confirmed that I will be teaching an online class in the Fall at New York University: Principles and Practices of Online Course Creation and Instructional Design.

The course description:

Designed as an introduction for faculty, trainers, and other instructors, this course prepares you to develop and teach online courses. Topics include the application of learning theory to online instruction, online course content development, and strategies for effective online curriculum planning and delivery. Learn how to define the characteristics and needs of adult distance learners; effective ways to meet these needs through online instruction; and the differences between online courses and traditional courses with respect to class participation, interaction, course materials, and instructor involvement. Reinforce your skills with the design and delivery of an instructional unit.

While the course is online, we are requiring a synchronous weekly attendance for it, though I am planning to record the sessions. The dates for the live sessions are 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, and 11/25. The time will be from 6:30 PM 8:00 PM EST.

I am excited to be using the new Epsilen platform, that NYU SCPS just purchased and is planning to use for their expanded online offerings.

I have been speaking with colleagues all over the Web about this class, and am interested in any and all suggestions and words of wisdom for this (as well as resource suggestions!).