A summer of online teaching...

[Dennis O'Connor]

I'm currently teaching 4 online classes. I haven't carried a load like this in years. typically I teach no more than two courses, but things snowballed and I find myself with a very full plate. It's been taxing and very interesting. Great people, great classes, and the pressure has helped me realize that I need to relax, step back and let people learn. (I just can't micromanage and save my sanity, so I'm forced to get more comfortable with my professed guide on the side role.)

When I want to dodge writing feedback commentary I find myself blogging here & there, bookmarking with delicious like made and impulsively joining more social networks. (I've signed up with Classroom 2.0 & Facebook this week following an impulse to connect with professional friends.)

A fellow online teacher from Alaska, who is taking our IMSA course: PowerSearching in a Web 2.0 World asked an interesting question about building trust in online environments.

I was reminded of how different a class driven structured online learning environment like Moodle or D2L is when compared to the laissez faire atmosphere of places like this Web 2.0 Ning environment. Social blogging, voluntary resource sharing, light professional networking... the feel and the pulse is certainly different.

But what about trust? I feel more exposed on SecondLife (as an ISTE member) and Facebook as simply some guy from San Diego. Being out of my range of expertise is a new experience. Second Life still baffles me. I can barely remember how to fly, sit or stand. Facebook is built for kids looking to step up from MySpace. I'm a little old to fit in either place.

Maybe I just like to be in the drivers seat? Honestly, I feel the greatest trust when I'm working with fellow educators in environments like this.

Den

[Durff]

Interesting, because the course i just finished was in Moodle. It was very laissez faire. Twittering is much less so.