WASCD Blog 4

Synchronous Tools
Most of the synchronous tools that I wanted to learn more about, I 've used in this class!  I would not have pushed myself into using such web conferencing tools (both audio and video).  Prior to this class, I had only used FaceTime on my iPad.  Now I've ventured into the Skype and Google Chat worlds.  During our Thursday night classes, whenever Kris puts up a graphic on the virtual whiteboard, I will print it out and write my own notes on it.  My dominant learning styles are visual language, visual numerical, and A-V-K (audio-visual-kinesthetic).  When I can print out the lesson topic and add my own notes, listen to fellow colleagues, and express my views, I learn the material best.  This is very effective!  A required synchronous tool skill set is that the teacher must be a facilitor of knowledge and discussion--a guidepost for the direction of learning.  An effective teacher must be prepared for any technolgical issues that arise--i.e. audio/visual is not functioning, screen freezes during class, broken links, etc.  Another effective tool is that the synchonous class can be recorded--making it also an asynchronous resource for absent students or a way to revisit the class.  The biggest downside that I would have as an online instructor is not being able to see my students' reactions.  I use body language and facial cues to aid in determining if my students are understanding the material in my classroom.  Unless students specifically tell me that they don't understand the material or homework objectives, I will assume all is well.  Expecting this assertiveness from teenagers will be difficult.  Many times, questions arise outside of the classroom.  In the online world, communication initially occurs via email or phone.  The turnaround time for an answer to a question could take hours if not days.  For some students this lag time in communication would require much effort and patience.  Being available to students by creating a synchronous virtual study time would solve this issue.

Asynchronous Tools
I can't believe how many aynchronous tools are out there!  Prior to this class, I was familiar with many Web 2.0 sites.  I've created online storybooks and photo albums, made videos and posted them on YouTube for my own class, and delved into the Moodle world.  The greatest advantage is the flexibilty that the teacher and students have in accessing these sites at any time.  I also like that I have time to reflect on what I've learned.  The asynchronous tools allow me to take my reflections/ideas and create something useful such as a blog or an online project.  The downside is that the instructor must continually keep the proverbial finger on the pulse of the web.  It is the instructor's responsibility to keep up-to-date on the latest web tools and then expose the students to them.  Just finding an effective website and creating a lesson will take hours of work--only to be obsolete within a year or two.  In a class such as this, Kris had to first ask us what our teaching disciplines were.  She then had to locate web resources for us to investigate that we would find useful.  Without fully understanding a discipline, a website might look good as a resource, but when investigated, ends up being ineffective for classroom use.  All in all, I still find the flexibilty and variety of asynchronous tools to be highly effective.