Reflections+on+assignments+in+EDLD+5368

I learned that the backbone of instructional design of distance education is to plan backwards, i.e.,to begin the planning process. Our first assignment consisted of handing out learningstyle inventories to our puplis to study their patterns. Likewise, we took a teaching style inventory and compared how we teach with how they learn to define a course of action toward addressing their/our needs. I administered this inventory to my 4th and 5th graders. On week 2 we were supposed to analyze AYP data and come up with the big ideasbehind our electronic instructional design. This valuable lesson helped me visualize the foundation for the viable outcomes of electronic syllabus based on an assessment of needs. Week 3 was meant for us to become familiarized with Schoology website and it was limited to our enrollment into the course. On week 4, we had to develop a rubric based on the six facets of understanding to guide and the design of different curricular activities thatencouraged higher-order thought and allowed students to build their own understanding. Finally, on week 5, we had to write a reflection on what we thought about the learningexperience and what professional plans we have to incorporate online education into our own practice. I was completely new to the Schoology website and I feel this is a fascinating technology with lots of potential. More than a database template, Schoology is specially designed to support efforts in online education. I was already familiarized with conducting research by analyzing surveys and inventories. In the future, I will make sure to include efficient ways of data gathering to customize my online learning experiences. Perhaps the initial setup of Schoology itself may be the most complex part of the experience, as several of us had trouble accessing and later navigating through the course. At the present time, I believe I lack sufficient evidence to state that online learning will affect elementary education in the future, to the point where students one day may not need to leave home and have an individual education plan in effect; however, I can see an immediate application of Schoology in the realm of professional development. Even if I could implement an online course for my elementary students, in my learning environment this would not provide an equal opportunity to all the children because some do not have a computer or access to the internet at home. Possibly, the one issue that puzzles me is how differentiated instruction, universal learning, differentiated instruction, learning styles, special edcucation and instructional technology may one day become fused as education becomes increasingly individualized and automated.