As I processed through this week's collaborative work I realized that the more I work in a collaborative setting, the easier it becomes. I think I have learned to adjust to the varied work ethics of group members, and I also think think that I've just become use to the fact the collaborative work is a task I will have in most courses. I do appreciate that group work guidelines were specific, and it was extremely helpful to have a rubric to follow. Creating a rubric for group work is something that I will create for my future courses as the rubric creates clear expectations for all to follow.
One thing I did struggle with this week was working with the unfamiliar online tools. It wasn't that working with these tools was difficult, the work was simply time consuming. Navigating through the unknown, making mistakes, and re-navigating took more time than originally expected. This is something that in my online courses I will also let my students know so that they can expect to allot more time than usual. It was of great assistance that my group members were so helpful and readily available for questions and feedback. I do not think there is an easier way to work through navigating through the unknown, and I'm not sure that I would want an easier path. Navigating through the tools was a great learning experience because I could learn from the mistakes I was making. One mistake in particular that I found I need to focus on more is checking and double-checking my postings.
This week I have also learned the value of allowing students to build upon their learning. I appreciate the communication between the teacher and students in the is course, and I like the ability to grow from the mistakes I am making. I can see using this in my courses as well, even the ones I am teaching in the face-to-face setting. Giving students the score they have earned, but allowing them to improve is a great tool for increasing responsibility, independence, and learning.
One thing I did struggle with this week was working with the unfamiliar online tools. It wasn't that working with these tools was difficult, the work was simply time consuming. Navigating through the unknown, making mistakes, and re-navigating took more time than originally expected. This is something that in my online courses I will also let my students know so that they can expect to allot more time than usual. It was of great assistance that my group members were so helpful and readily available for questions and feedback. I do not think there is an easier way to work through navigating through the unknown, and I'm not sure that I would want an easier path. Navigating through the tools was a great learning experience because I could learn from the mistakes I was making. One mistake in particular that I found I need to focus on more is checking and double-checking my postings.
This week I have also learned the value of allowing students to build upon their learning. I appreciate the communication between the teacher and students in the is course, and I like the ability to grow from the mistakes I am making. I can see using this in my courses as well, even the ones I am teaching in the face-to-face setting. Giving students the score they have earned, but allowing them to improve is a great tool for increasing responsibility, independence, and learning.