I was overcome with fear and anxiety when I signed on that night. With the discussion we previously had in class about preferences either face-to-face classes or online learning, I happened to be a proponent of the traditional ways of education. It is extremely difficult for me to monitor myself and my interaction online. Typically, I tend to get a little impatient with computers by the end of my teaching day. I mean, I appreciate technology for the wonders that it brings, but foften times I get agitated when dealing with computer issues. Aside from our differences, I actively chose to grasp this online discussion method with open arms.
When I first signed on, I was overwhelmed with the multiple postings. As I read along, I felt more at ease so I decided to pot my quote on a few threads. I went through the mixed feelings of oh my gosh I better make sure the spelling is correct, I must use netiquette ideas, and I should check for additional responses. It was difficult at first, however as time progresses I became more brazen and carefree. I realized that it is not merely just the application techniques but more of the content that I should emphasize my focus on. I appreciated that my peers are so honest and informative. It was refreshing to know that there are certain classmates like daleengman who is willing to make time to add a few lines to new threads or quotes. Additionally, I enjoyed the article that Raevon Gude posted on Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:36 pm because it was in tune with my article. Similarly with Raevon, the researchers of my article believe that technology is in the hands of teachers. On the same note, daleengman replied with some helpful insights by providing her with his own assessment rubric for these sorts of data. Lastly, I truly benefited from all the postings because it served as a tool to guide me through my assignments and program. Juliepacheco posted a thread on Oct. 14 at 4:04 pm, which she shared the importance of making the material more relevant and applicable. This is what she stated about an assignment for a previous class, �The biggest problem, I had with this project is that the education undergraduate students were assigned to teachers in primary grades even though they were intended middle- and high-school teachers to be. There is no motivation in completing a final semester project on something one will never use.�
One of the main motivating factor about the discussion forum is the availability of your time. I had a few questions that I posted and you were readily available to explain it. I was floored when I did not have to wait for days for my questions to be answered. Also, the forum was very fluid and carefree because you allowed us the freedom to explore this form of technology usage.