The readings and videos this week opened up a deeper level of understanding on the benefits and challenges of the Online teacher. While I am excited about becoming more proficient in my ability to teach online, it was interesting to read about the teachers satisfaction in the virtual classroom and how it can be improved. Additionally, to learn how the opposition to student use of technology & the detrimental affects of screen time on children which drive the negative perception of its use. Having an understanding of both sides of the topic will only enhance my proficiency as an online educator.
Teacher satisfaction in their job as an educator directly impact the learning experience of students. Borup and Stevens (2016) analyzed teacher interviews and concluded that there were 3 primary factors that contributed to teacher satisfaction: flexibility, personal communication with students, and receiving administrative support while feeling they positively impacted student success. In many cases, interviewees stated they were surprised by the ability to work one on one with students in the online setting - which was satisfying, but on the flip side, others were frustrated when a student wouldn't respond to communication making it difficult to interact at all with a student.
Hawkins, Graham, and Barbour (2012) conducted interviews of online teachers and found that online teachers described feeling of disconnect and a limited sense of community. They described feeling of isolation from their colleagues, and limited interaction with and among students. The study suggested the implementation of more social opportunities such as a virtual staff room, increased quantity and frequency of student interactions, and providing a closed social network to help address the disconnect and isolated feelings in the online school.
In the video Is Google Making Us Stupid? presented by PBS News Hour, Nicholas Carr looks at the impact of internet use on our brains through the lens of neuroscience. Correlations were made between the increase in use of the internet, and the decrease in the ability to concentrate. Concerns were noted because as we train our brain to shift focus frequently, our ability to focus deeply is inhibited - causing a decrease in critical thinking skills. Clive Thompson, author of "Smarter than You Think", argues that the internet allows us to learn more and retain information for longer periods of time. He states that increased exposure to information triggers a desire to look up information to gain a deeper understanding, increasing the knowledge processed by our brains (Is the internet making us smarter? by CBS This Morning). The concept of neuroplasticity and 'pruning' or shaping of our brain function is discussed. In education, a growth mindset stands on the belief that we can train our brains as well. This video below explains the concept of neuroplasticity in a little more detail, showing how the brain is shaped or rewired for our needs.
The various interactions between teacher, learner & content can be both positive and negative experiences. As an online educator, it is important to understand how the interactions can impact the learning of your students. As a teacher, you must facilitate the interactions in order to achieve the most positive experiences and outcomes. Understanding the neuroscience behind the brain development, it's natural pruning process, and how teens use technology allows us as teachers to make thoughtful decisions about our assignments and interactions we plan our lessons. Additionally, it prepares us to effectively communicate with concerned parents. We will be more satisfied in our jobs when we create an engaging environment for our students which they consider a positive impact in their life. I stumbled across the video below and found that it highlighted many of the concepts we've learned so far in our classes. The 8 lessons shared by online teachers explain how putting time into your lesson design and delivery make a positive impact for both students and teachers, leading to a satisfying teaching/learning experience.
