• What benefits do you see in educators knowing how to design and implement online learning?
As a principal, I feel that online learning would have many benefits. Online learning would first be introduced to teachers in order for them to master it. It would be used so they could complete required professional development on their own time, such as completing the StaR chart and sexual harassment lessons. They would have had practice using it so they could then begin creating activities that their students would be interested in completing. If educators are trained properly, online learning would make it easier to design engaging lessons. They would then be able to interact with their students more, thus allowing the students to feel that teachers were interested in them instead of teaching a test. According to Michael Horn in his book Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, “Moving lesson planning and delivery online can provide students with more supervision, not less. It would free teachers, to do hand-holding and mentoring, something which is pretty much impossible in the current model.”
• How will you professionally use your course that you designed?
I would use online learning courses to cover many aspects of teacher professional development. In our district, teachers have had to stay after school every Monday or every other Monday to complete district requirements. Courses would include TAKS training, special education training and other required subjects. Teachers must also complete two days of workshops to fulfill flex day requirements and online learning would help accomplish this feat. Courses can also be used to educate teachers regarding the various forms of technology available to them along with changes that occur with this technology. Teachers would have the time to learn about these matters on their own time instead of having to use their conference time or staying after school which would leave them more time to plan or mentor students. They would also be able to refer back to the lessons if they need a refresher. Teachers would also be able to show their mastery of online courses by participating as presenters during summer workshops and the Fall Staff Development Conference.
• Will you integrate online learning in your role as a principal/staff developer?
Integrating online learning will benefit principals, teachers and students. By using online learning to assist my teachers in becoming highly qualified teachers, they will in turn use it to help our students become highly qualified students and the future workforce. By using online learning programs to communicate with teachers, this will free up time for both the principal and teacher since they can create activities and view them on their own time. This will also promote teamwork amongst teachers by providing opportunities to collaborate in the creation of activities and to participate in discussion boards without having to be in the same room or on the same schedule. Observing the ease with which this can be done, my hope would be that teachers would then take it upon themselves to complete more professional development on their own by using online learning. I will also use this to encourage teachers to assist students who are having attendance issues and miss critical learning.
• What questions do you still have about online learning?
As a principal, I have many questions regarding online learning. As an administrator, I question the cost and toll it would take on our infrastructure. I would need to know what hardware and software would be required. I would also need to know who would be responsible for the initial implementation of the use of online learning. Once we get started, I would need to know what kind of time frame would be feasible as a requirement for teachers to be considered masters of online learning. I would also like to know what kind of accountability would be acceptable to use when determining compliance. Are there other online learning programs other than Schoology that would be easier, faster and more cost-efficient to use? How can teachers make the time to create engaging lessons for online learning use? Will we have enough computers for students to use at school in the event they do not have one for use at home? I have many more questions but I feel they can only be answered if we implement and work them out as we go.
• What will you do with this new learning?
With this new learning, I plan to move learning at our school into the 21st century and assist our digital native students in becoming successful in their future plans. Teachers educated in the proper use of online learning can create engaging activities that students will be eager to complete. Not only will this help with their learning, but it will give teachers the opportunity to personalize their interactions with their students. This will keep students interested in learning, make them feel respected and keep them from dropping out of school later. I will create an even more cohesive team of teachers that will enjoy working on creating appealing online learning activities and participating in discussion groups when they have the time. This will help with building a workplace where teachers are relaxed and eager to work harder. Online learning will also help produce highly qualified teachers that are willing to not only improve their students education but their own education as well.
Christensen, C.M., Horn, M.B., & Johnson, C.W. (2008). Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns (1 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
