Two weeks ago I felt quite down and demotivated, overwhelmed by the technological mountain before me, what with blogs, wikis, del.icio.us, rss, tags, flickr, slideshare, twitter and a whole heap of other mysterious words. I felt quite inadequate; I simply wouldn’t be able get up to speed with all these web-based technologies. Not only was I struggling as an online learner (having difficulties managing my time, focusing on a particular task without zipping off here and there following pathways of interesting links, or even making some contribution to others in the group … needless-to-say I’m still struggling with all of these but working on it), but even worse, would I ever be able to make it as a good online teacher. Fairly depressing stuff!
But then I tuned into Nancy White’s talk about how much we learn by looking over someone else’s shoulders (here’s her website). I recognized immediately that this is how I have learned most of my (somewhat limited) computer skills, watching someone else, it’s like they turn the key and open the door a little for you to then venture inside yourself and try it out. In this course I’ve been looking over people’s shoulders to see how they set up and use their blogs, and how Elluminate and some of these other tools can be used (I like Elluminate, it’s immediately applicable to my teaching area (bioscience), although I’ve found I can listen and watch the slide screen but not follow the text at the same time!). And it’s been really useful, I’ve picked up a lot but to be honest, it’s a slow and difficult process when you are not an overly confident computer/web-user and doing it all online rather than having that person sitting next to you. But this will be the challenging reality for many online learners that don’t have any f2f, so it’s good to be aware of it and to consider how I can help students to feel comfortable and able to move beyond the technology.
There were several things that really struck me from
Her chatty style mixing information and personal stories, her sense of humor, and ease of responding to the written text and questions; I felt like we were in the same room, I could almost see her waving her hands about as she excitedly spoke.
Much to my relief she told us that online facilitators don’t need to know all the techno stuff but it’s helpful to have a geeky friend who does (that’s Leigh, Bron and Terry I think). She said a wonderful line “it’s OK to be unknowing and comfortable in your unknowingness”. It was great to hear that, I don’t need to know everything about all the techno tools and words that keep popping up, just enough to see whether a particular tool will be useful in my teaching context and then using it well. So I’ll just focus on a few things (and keep a list of others to catch up with later on).
And it was even better when
And lastly from
So where am I now? I forged ahead and changed my web browser to Leigh’s suggestion which seemed to upset some of my other applications, although I hope that’s all sorted now. And I set-up my RSS feeder (I really liked the YouTube video (RSS in plain English by Leelefever) that described what it was, this video was really simple and effective). Then back down to reality with the number of posts appearing on the reader after a number of days away distracted by work and family commitments, and finding myself unsure what to do with my Gary Larson cartoon for our Bb exercise when I discovered it and the link to it breached copyright (which is why it hasn’t appeared anywhere), and then missing the talk last week because I thought it was on a different day (thank goodness they are recorded). I know I still have a long way to go but what a ride so far!
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Sounds like you're having a fantastic time. I just love my Google reader now that I have worked it out. But as you said, have to be careful it does not distract me - particularly from my PhD.
So much of your experience is similar to my own: the feelings of inadequacy but panic too - not knowing what to focus on first. At the same time, feeling a pull towards the websites - the blogs, the lectures - enjoying the feeling of being part of a group, even though not a very active member; enjoying the experience of the technology, again, albeit not very technologically minded; and enjoying the acquisition of new knowledge, though not managing to read all that has been presented - yet. Perhaps we can gain motivation and encouragement from our respective successes!
Debbie
Ah, Veronique, you made my day. I was interrupting my work by checking my blog subscriptions and little collector thingies (how's THAT for technical) which alert me if someone has written about me. And I found the link to your post.
Yeah, this alert is partly a vanity thing, but it also allowed me to have the great pleasure to read your reflection. I found myself nodding about how you expressed how all this techno stuff makes us FEEL. PERFECT! You really captured this and it is so important. (Yes, I'd be waving my hands if I were not typing that!)
I was at a gathering this weekend where we talked again about this feeling of inadequacy. What was striking was that we had two young people in the room and they looked at us in utter disbelief. First, they were amazed we felt challenged by the technology and second, that we let our sense of inadequacy slow us down!
It was one of those moments, each of us looking astonished at each other. For me, it was a moment to remind me that I need to look to the younger generation to inspire me, to shake me out of my set of self doubts. It was WONDERFUL!
Thanks for taking the time to share your reflections, not just with your cohort in the class, but the rest of us humans in the world so we can have that lovely moment of recognition of a shared experience!
Nancy
I am feeling a bit like a buzzing newbie at the moment too. Sharing what I am finding out about these tools with colleagues I love your reflection here. It helps make sense of some of my thoughts too. and it is good to know that we don't need all the ins and outs of every little think. Heavens that would truly be impossible.
I have been to some fantastic places recently through delicious and found documentaries and stuff on the net that I was completely unaware were there. The problem is that it is so easy to get distracted and spend hours doing interesting stuff that actually is not focussed on anything I really need to know.