Module+1

Carole and Jane have designed this course to try to achieve best practice in elearning. We found these principles a good guide. They are based on Pelz (2004). He actually described them as three principles but we have differentiated them into four.
 * MODULE 1**

To evaluate the course design, please add your reflections about Module 1 using these questions as a guide AND **ADD YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH NEW COMMENT PLEASE**


 * Q1. How well has the course helped develop your learning independence?

Zero to date - but it's just Module 1! (I don't find this user friendly - I don't want this color - I tried for another but it wouldn't accept - and I don't want it to be slooow! I lost the content when I tried to put in something with Q2. I expected it to hold until I had totally finished.) ** Marina - So far so good it is great to study on a moodle platform again and see the different uses in this course. Q2. How well has the course encouraged your interactivity and engagement?

Feeling incredibly ignorant, it doesn't unfortunately. It encourages a response of hold back until you work it out a bit. Eg I just asked an FAQ on using this and signed out of edna and lo and behold in gmail I found an invite to participate, and that was my answer. Message: don't ask questions! ** Marina - I think that the introduction icebreak was good as was the webinar even though I could not attend it, I have listening to the recordings and it seems to have been a great interaction. **

Q3. How well has the course enabled you to collaborate with your action partner and the group?

(And now it's NOT throwing me out when I move down. I guess its the practise!!) Sort of. I think we need to work on it. By doing 'something', you realize you could do it better. **


 * Marina - Well this I found to be a bit confusing, maybe because I was used to having the group posting their comments in the same forum initial post just by replying in the last course I did. While in this one everyone posts an independent post to answer or continue the same issue, I guess it must be just a matter of practicing but I find this way to be a bit time consuming. **

Q4. How well have the facilitators supported your learning and provided frequent 'online presence'? Very well!

Marina - Jane and Carole have been very present.

Q5. Was there anything you think could, or should, be changed or done differently?

Yes. But I don't know how you work it. If someone put up their goal, whoever was online shortly after was inclined to comment. And if someone put one up later, those who'd looked at goals earlier were not inclined to look again. Quite a bit of the encouraging to clarify was done by the facilitators. I don't know how - with time constraints etc - but I think there should be encouragement to 'revisit' - more than once. Marina - Well for now I think it has been great.

Q6. What new learning has occurred for you and what was its impact on you? ** I did (I found black!!!!!) have some thoughts initially but I didn't note them - sorry! I did note my reaction of to hang back because I was overwhelmed by all the various parts of the screen and the variety of sections and how do I track back to something etc etc etc. And thought of my students and perhaps why some got online quickly - those with some familiarity of online learning etc - and others haven't. (What you'd expect!) (These comments are a mix of O-week and Mod 1 ones - and may not relate to my learning but just feedback.) The visual was a strong message in O-week. In other styles of learning to what were put up, mine is to feel my way - to work out the territory - before I can even begin to think about things and possibly learn. As a result of that I need lots more time to just digest the territory at the beginning.

Marina - The amount of visual aids was defenitely very positive, I paid attention to the layout of the course which I find to be interesting and attractive. I guess in this module 1, I mainly revised some of what I had learned before which is GREAT.

And a comment not related to your questions. I went back to the original flyer about this course and 3 hours per week was mentioned as the time commitment. That may be the case for those with a fair bit of familiarity with the territory, but it is a serious underestimate for those with no familiarity. Marina - Hello there, just a word of encouragement you are not alone when I started studying online I faced the same challenges as you but as one advances in the course one starts getting more familiar with it and one is able to manage the time, just a matter of persistence and patience. If you need some extra help feel free to contact me and I will help if I can.