This course has really got me thinking again on how different it really is teaching in a classroom than it was online. I started teaching online straight out of teacher's college, so had very little experience actually teaching in a classroom setting. Last year, when I found out that I had to move into a classroom, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, it would be nice to get out from behind a desk all day and be able to interact face to face with students. On the other hand, I was faced with new challenges- behaviour issues, lesson planning, pretty much all of the things that come along with being in front of a class and actually having to teach a live "audience".
Near the end of my online "career" I started to feel very stifled. The courses that I was teaching were all ministry created, and left little room for creativity. On top of that, I rarely met my students, and communicated primarily through email. There was never any real connection with anyone, except for the two other teachers that I worked with. As much as I really liked the idea of online learning, we were working with students who were using the online programming as a last resort. Some were ill and couldn't attend school, others chose not to attend school, but because they were not of age, legally had to be enrolled somewhere. I found that often the progress was slow, and our success rates were low. I think that the program definitely had its merits, and the students who were successful I was always particularly happy for, because without the online courses, they may not have finished high school.
So, to sum up that ramble, I am much happier now teaching in a classroom, but there are a lot of really great things that I feel I took from that experience. In those two short years, I learned how helpful that online learning was for students who were already motivated. Online learning took a lot of self-exploration as well as self-discipline. I was also exposed to so many different online tools that I probably wouldn't have known about otherwise. I feel much more comfortable using technology with my classes now.
Anyways, again, it was just a (long) thought.
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Laura,
ReplyDeleteSo often the grass is greener over that fence. In your case it sounds as if the experience of online teaching has provided you with a different perspective and skill set which allows you to service your students more effectively.
I think the most important facet any teacher can bring to the table is to learn from each experience and bring that knowledge forward through new approaches to student engagement and curriculum delivery. For curriculum can only happen when we engage and teach students. Great to read about your experience doing just this.
Simon.