I always wanted to
teach, but school was always so dull and unfulfilling to me in the 1970s. My
grades were good but not great. So when I returned to school for my undergrad I wanted
to be a part of a bigger picture to
facilitate change in my community. Teaching and learning had changed. I had
options other than the traditional brick and mortar in a flexible environment,
that was online learning. Through caring, dedicated and attentive professors I
became engaged and confident. My online instructors became social directors of
sorts and established a sense of community and utilized different modes of
interaction amongst us. Through emails,
discussion forums, videos, or other means, the virtual classroom was
brought to life, and my online educators
did that using different modes of technology. "Your presence is not
required on a specific day or time but continue
to keep the learner challenged and engaged. It
is important to find creative ways to enthuse the student to participate
in the learning environment daily" (Pelletier, (2013). I did not want to
stop learning for the first time, and my
courses were not boring but instead required that I use critical thinking and
creative scheduling to submit my coursework on time. "Maintain momentum.
Online course design is brought to life as it is being taught. Plan intentional
engagement by maintaining a visible presence across the week in posts,
announcements, and grading feedback. Create anticipation with a synchronous session,
new collaboration tool, or friendly competition to encourage imagination and
problem-solving" (Lewinski, (2017).
After receiving my BA in history, I felt a "calling" to be an
online educator. I did not want to teach in
a traditional educational setting that did not motivate and invigorate. My
online professors were an example of what I wanted to exude in my teaching
environment using digital technology.
Transitioning from a student to educator has been enlightening, to say the least. Somewhat like my yoga class, it requires a shift in focus. It's not
about me as an educator.
A Shift of Focus
A few years ago I joined a yoga class at the
advice of my physician. When I practice yoga (lowers blood pressure), I am
guided to focus only on me, not looking around or noticing what any other yogi
is doing. We breathe through our own practice. The audible breath sounds have
always been comforting to me, somehow. It is as if I can feel the class’ collective
strength, which manages to feed my power
with each inhalation and exhalation.
As a teacher, I am there to engage
the students to want to learn. I am no longer paying attention to my own
"practice," but tuning into the
learning styles of others. As teachers,
we look for alignment, possible strain, or notice where space can be created
for deeper engagement. My role has now shifted from a student, and I have an
opportunity to teach, to guide, and to be part of the physical and spiritual
expansion of another person.
Summary
As I move to teach online, my virtual classrooms have given me a different
perspective on my role as instructor entails. In an online venue, I will lead, but differently. I am less a university
lecturer, and more a mentor. I am less a distributor of information and more a
facilitator. Student learning is less about me, and more about them. I
strive to be an exceptional online educator just like the ones that took an
interest in me. Remembering, to always communicate with my students and keeping
them engaged. "Exceptional facilitators are open to many different avenues
of communication. This is not limited to email and could include text, Skype,
blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and telephone contact
information" (Pelletier, (2013).
References
Lewinski, C. (2017, May 24). Engaging online learning experiences start with the role of faculty. Retrieved from https://keypathedu.com/blog/2017/05/24/engaging-online-learning-experiences-start-role-faculty
Pelletier, P. (2013, September 20). What online teachers need to know. Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/what-online-teachers-need-to-know/
