Not so sure that I knew I was signing up to be a trail blazer... I thought I was just continuing on with business as usual, albeit in a virtual classroom. Boy, was I wrong!!! This is nothing like I have done before, period. I have taught face to face for thirty years-how different could this be I recall thinking just one short week ago.
The kinks from the first online class were magnified tenfold yesterday. I mean, really?! Shouldn't things get easier with each additional step? I was completely spent out by the end of two hours! From juggling disconnects/reconnects, unmuting the spontaneous muting of users (how does that happen?!), keeping an eye on the chat box so that I could respond to those who were still unable to hear or be heard, trying to make sense of broken dialogue and up to 45 seconds of lag time between my response and theirs, getting kicked out of the system eight!! times which meant having to redo all of the settings each time... all the while I was hearing the occasional student say, "Is she still on? Can you hear her?". "Yes!" I shouted through cyberspace, "I am right here! Do not log off...I'm right here!" If I had not been in the moderator chair I would find it hard to believe that so much could go so wrong. Truly, blazing new trails is not for the faint at heart.
In hindsight, I should have had a clue it would be a rough ride... The inability to upload any of the documents I would need to pull off a "seamless" class session was frustrating. The lackluster first class where a group discussion was as good as it got (because it took half the time just trying to get everyone online)was not impressive. I love this cohort and I really wanted to "wow" them with my emerging online teaching skills. I have to give another shout out to my amazingly attentive and helpful technical friend and colleague - when I could not upload my materials, she responded immediately to my plea for help- finding her online with me within a minute of my cry for "HELP!". She provided me with a Plan B- sharing my desktop...ok! Unfortunately, I needed a Plan C... As soon she logged off and my students were logging on, the desktop share option translated into the disconnect option...a prelude to a two glasses of wine kind of evening!! So heres to my colleague who was working behind the scenes during my disaster of a class session to see to it that a " new and much improved" online system would be waiting for me before I attempted class again. For those new to the world of online teachng, do NOT opt for free online tools, try it out with individuals you already have a relationship with, and find a technical genius who is the kindest person in the world- find your own...I am not sharing!
Yes, Laura...someone has got to blaze the trail...thanks for riding with me!
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