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EDU 5368 Week 5 Reflection · **What benefits do you see in educators knowing how to design and implement online learning? **

As society increases the need for convenience and speed on line learning will be a great asset. The benefits of creating online classes are endless. Online Learning would allow new knowledge to be disbursed or previously learned knowledge to be reinforced. The ability to effectively create an online learning environment would change the world of education as we currently know it. The stand and deliver method of getting information to the masses would turn into a virtual all you can learn buffet, where teachers monitor and assist students with their individual learning needs. Online courses would be designed for the individual learner instead of a “One size fits all” style. The learner would be able to move at his or her own pace instead of struggling to keep up with the rest of the class. Knowing how to design and implement an online learning environment would allow teachers to differentiate instruction. Teachers across the globe would be able to interchange class lessons, units, or and entire courses with each other.


 * How will you professionally use your course that you designed? **

Every day we are faced with the challenges of improving the quality of education for our students. As educators we have the never ending task of preparing students for the 21st century. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for a student who is at home ill not to miss what is going on in class? Online course design could be the answer. Creating an online course would eliminate the “I’ve been absent, what have I missed and do I have any make up work?” Students would have access to what is going on in class while they are out. Educators could design special units for remediation and enrichment for a given subject area. Different learning styles could be included to address the various learning styles. Online course development could also be used to help parents assist their children with homework and increase their understanding in their own areas of weakness.


 * Will you integrate online learning in your role as a teacher/staff developer? **

As with any newly learned skill, the desire to use it is great. With this desire also come road blocks. When curriculums are designed, it is the responsibility of the educator to make and action plan to accomplish these objectives. Online learning would enable an educator to create lessons that would combine several objectives together. The hook used to engage the student would be the big picture for any given six weeks. The course design would include the background information necessary to reach the desired result. The benefits of integrating online learning are endless. Online learning would open doors and enhances learning for all learners. Instead of spending a wealth of class days reviewing skills from the previous years, students would be able to do an online review outside of class. Deficiencies for the weaker student would be addressed along with enrichment for the advanced student. Online learning would create a more independent learner instead of a dependent learner.


 * What questions do you still have about online learning? **

Curiosity has always been the driving force for learning. As we prepare students for the 21st century many questions arise. How can we improve the online learning experience for students? How can we make this learning experience more user friendly and accessible to more students? Having enough time to plan will be an issue when integrating new teaching methods. Getting support from administration and student buy in may also pose a problem. Making the online lessons and exciting would be a major concern for an educator who wants to include this teaching approach. Accommodations for students who do not have internet access at home or who do not own computers should be considered and addressed. Grade-ability of online exams with immediate response capabilities would be an interesting addition to the online learning experience. Making the online learning experience exciting, not boring, and highly interactive would definitely be a plus.

**What will you do with this new learning?**

Providing differentiated instruction can at times be a very difficult task. With the variation of learning styles that are present in any particular class the task of reaching every student becomes increasing difficult. Utilizing the skill of online course design would help address this issue. Designing an online course would allow the slower learner to review the instructional material frequently. Extra clarification of activities could be included for the tactile learner. The interactivity will capture the attention of a student that is ADD. For the advanced student, enrichment activities would be just a few clicks away. Online learning will assist in moving today’s student to an independent 21st century learning student. Having to keep track of fifty plus worksheets and the days they are due would become obsolete. Keeping track of who turned in an assignment and who did not would be just a click and a glance away.