Osman ONL's Journey

The ONL course is very informative. Although I have been teaching and doing instructional design for the past 22 years, I feel that my knowledge concerning technology-enabled learning increased quite a bit after attending the course.   The most important thing that I have learned through my engagement in the ONL course is to never assume that students or teachers are comfortable with technology-enabled and open learning. There needs to be ample preparation prior to the start of an online course. This can include:   Bridging the gap in knowledge using an online tools   Mitigate privacy concerns, if any Mitigate the factors that may hinder or facilitate open-learning Be aware of the benefits and obstacles of collaborative learning before implementing them Be aware of the benefits and challenges of synchronous and asynchronous learning   Choosing the appropriate tools when designing an online lesson   I enjoyed learning new things from my PBL group classmates and also being able

Scenario: “ Two years ago, we were forced to work online with the implementation of emergency remote teaching and learning because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It seems that in many instances we may still be approaching our teaching practice in the same way without using any of the existing models of learning design for blended and online learning to inform our practice. How do we draw on current best practices and review how we design blended and online learning to promote active learning; and how we combine synchronous and asynchronous activities that encourage students’ engagement and learning?” The scenario is similar to my own experience. My institution has been conducting workshops face to face and we adopt the Team-Based Learning strategy. When Covid-19 struck, we have to switch to a fully online workshop. While I have been teaching for more than 20 years and leading the instructional design team for more than ten years, it is still a challenge for me. Fully online learning was alw

This blog entry will discuss what is collaborative learning, the benefits and obstacles as well as my personal experience on how I overcome collaborative learning obstacles in class.   What is Collaborative Learning?   According to Laal (2011), collaborative learning is an educational approach to teaching and learning that involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem, complete a task, or create a product. Smith and MacGregor (1992) added that usually it involves students working in groups and they mutually search for understanding, solutions, or creating a product. In his theory of social development, Vygotsky (1934) stressed that community was an important factor in the process of creating knowledge.   Collaborative learning is about working together as a team and the enhancement of learning through teamwork. There are many benefits to collaborative learning. However, the implementation of collaborative learning is not clear-cut. Educators might face so