"Hands on Learning" in Week 2

Whereas this class discusses a lot of topics that we have used in the past, it differs in the sense that we are much more active.  Starting with the Elluminate session that we had last night, we are trying to practice what we preach.  By being split into groups, with each member having a specific role, it was quite eye-opening to feel what it is like to be the teacher in charge of an online classroom.  It was also interesting to be the recorder, trying to utilize the "whiteboard," and its capabilities.  As far as the work for the week was concerned, it was nice to be able start off by taking a little quiz.  This helped me realize that were still some aspects of this particular week's content that I had not mastered.  I also like the way that we are running our ideas for initial class announcements by the rest of our classmates.  As we all have different backgrounds, this should be a great way to gain some insight from a previously hidden perspective.  Finally, this class has truly broadened my horizons in terms of learning about an asynchronous vs. synchronous online environment.  I think that in the asynchronous environment, where meetings don't match up, it is essential to utilize tools such as message boards and emailing (or a common space to check for class updates, such as a website, or wiki).  This type of environment, albeit non-traditional can very efficient due to the progresses of technology.  Conversely, a synchronous environment (where most meetings take place face-to-face) benefits also from the use of message boards, but most importantly from real-time classroom discussion and conversation.