Questions 4 and 5 of Reflection

• What questions do you still have about online learning?

I have thought about this question and reasoned with myself that I should have many more questions about online learning since I am no where a professional at it or even are fully operating at this time. I have to admit that the webinars were good but a bit too fast. I personally would have like each part broken down into several webinars or a multipart webinar that took us through all the steps at a slower pace and allow a brief q/a session every so often as a check for understanding. I ofcourse realize that I most question what types of courses are best done in the online learning format? I wonder if there is a rule of thumb I should learn before attempting a specific course or just try it and see if it works. With that in mind I am also wondering how indepth do go with my assignments and is it necessary to always provide a rubric? I will be digging deeper into the book that was used in this course so that Wiggins and McLeigh can hopefully give me a few answers or an insight.


• What will you do with this new learning?

I am thrilled with my new adventure and I hope to utilize the aspects of the readings of “Understanding by Design” through the next few months and incorporate the references into some of my lesson plans from this year and last year. I want to sit down with the curriculum in front of me and examine the aspects of the 5E model and try to rewrite lesson plans that start with a more concrete analysis of what it is the students will need to do to demonstrate an “understanding” of the lesson or unit. I don’t want to just engage them and ask them meaningless questions that do not derive a purpose for the content. I plan to place strategic activities into lessons that may not be called for by the C Scope material; which should ensure they are not just regurgitating what they are hearing but are applying concepts in and on other levels of thinking. Then once I have developed these lessons I will present them to my administrator, mentor and instructional coach to then discuss an online course or staff development based off of the same backward design concepts for other subjects. I can see many teachers doing this naturally with just a small push in the right direction where trying to follow a “scripted lesson” from the curriculum can be a challenge at times. Not to mention it takes the creativity away from the teacher and student.