Most of use different online
technologies, as part of their everyday lives, without really
thinking about it. Whether it's shopping, paying bills,
booking a holiday or keeping in touch with family or friends, the internet has
fundamentally changed, how we communicate, work and
share information. Digital technologies are infiltrating
society extremely rapidly compared to other major technological
developments in recent history. This change is happening so fast, that
many educational institutions have found it
very hard to keep up. Because of this, the way many of us teach
does not always align with some of the skills
students need to learn. So as teachers, we need to ensure that
we are preparing our students to live and work in
the real world. This means that in addition to teaching them disciplinary knowledge and skills, we
also need to teach them digital literacies they need to be effective in the future
workplace. To do this, we first need to develop
these literacies for ourselves. It is important for each of us to build
our own understanding of the relevance of online technologies to
the way we already teach. In the context of its authentic use in professional industries, and the rest
of society. Once we understand this, we can ensure
that we teach our students in a way that will be most
beneficial and relevant for them. Technology changes quickly, so we have
to focus on understanding effective pedagogical strategies, rather
than just focusing on the technology itself. In this way we can continue to adapt to whatever changes come our way in the
future. Integrating technology into our
teaching is an important option to consider. Our society has fundamentally changed. And we all need to change with it. But in a way that works best for our
students and for ourselves. This course can help you with this. In addition to painting the bigger picture. We wanted to outline a few practical
reasons why it's worth your while to learn how to teach either fully
online or blended courses. We'll explore many of these ideas
throughout the course. Teaching online means that learning and
teaching is not limited to a set class time. It can occur at times that are more
convenient and productive for both students and you
as teachers. Learning can happen anywhere and can
include students and teachers from diverse
geographical locations. Administrative load can be greatly
streamlined through considered use of certain digital
technologies. Online delivery can provide greater
opportunities for students and teachers living with a disability, or those who may find it
difficult to attend face to face classes. Teachers and students can easily access
and share current information with larger and more diverse
groups of people online. There are many quality online resources
that are free to use in your classes, allowing students to learn
from other experts in the field. And the student learning experience can be
enhanced by providing greater opportunities for cross-disciplinary or cross-cultural
collaborations. We all have our individual motivations for
wanting to teach online. Some of us regard it as our natural progression, in our current
teaching practice. Some of us are reluctant to change, but feel pressured by what's happening
around us. Others of us, are interested in online
education, but don't know how to get started, or
expand upon what we already do. For each of us to make effective, lasting
changes in our practice, we need to first see how online
teaching relates to what we already do, understand how it's being
used in the disciplines we teach, and how it can benefit us, and of
course, our students. The first activity in this course, will
help you develop a strategy, to begin thinking
about these questions in your own unique circumstances, which
will provide a basis for the rest of your study in this
course.
