Module+7+Reflection

=Reflection 7=

**//Reflection Prompt: //****Reflect on how you perceive yourself as an online learner? Are you well-prepared to be an online leaner? Tell us about what you need to improve in order to be a successful online learner. **

**Description: **

This module I have been thinking about what makes people successful as online learners, and ways in which I can support my students as we explore Online Learning Environments together.

**Impact: **

As an online learner, I am self-motivated and directed to complete assignments and work to the best of my ability. I like participating in discussions, and feel that I am at my best when I can read and comment on other people’s posts. The discussion boards and the wide-variety of resources are great support for me as I learn online, and I love the fact that I can choose what materials will best help me learn the module ideas. In this way, I get to choose what helps me learn the best, and this has made me much more self-aware of my strengths and weaknesses as a learner, allowing me to accommodate myself as necessary. Since I am more aware of myself as a learner, I feel that I am better prepared to learn online, and find the experience to be really beneficial.

As for teaching my students in an online environment, I know that I would have to be very supportive to them, and provide tons of resources to enhance their experience with the content. Besides this, I would also have to make sure that my “presence” was known to them, and that I continually encouraged and motivated them to do well through guiding their discussion posts, answering emails in a timely manner, and generally just providing them with lots of ways that they could contact me if necessary. By recognizing that these are my needs as a learner, I believe it better prepares me to plan effectively for an online learning environment, and gives me a “to-do” list to best support my students in the process.

**Intent: ** My intention after recognizing my strengths and weaknesses as a learner is to take those into account when I plan an Online Learning Environment. I will give plenty of resources to students that will support their understanding of content (including videos, podcasts, and presentations) because I know that it can be hard when there is no face-to-face time to clarify for students. Also, I will make sure to motivate and support the students by being actively engaged in the content, replying in the discussion boards, and responding quickly to emails or questions. By using all of the methods mentioned above, I believe that I can create an environment that will meet student learning objectives, motivate them to learn, and provide the support/resources to accommodate different learning styles, effectively allowing my students to grow in their understanding of my content area, and becoming more self- aware and directed learners as a result.