Unbelievable that it has taken me a good 15 minutes to work out how to post something new to my blog again! Practice is definitely needed. Yesterday i got the opportunity for some hands on 'play' with 'flash' meetings and google 'docs' with the help of Jan whom I discovered has also enrolled on this course. So reassuring. So many applications that are being used in this course and so many bits and pieces to visit. And each person you talk to has their own 'favourite' programme.

On the way back from the airport today an interesting interview about how all these techniques are encouraging us to interact and maybe think/respond in short and shallower ways. the 'need' to be hooked into all the networks and keeping up on all the 'new information' as it happens does not leave alot of time for reflection. How much time to spend on the net each day? How to control the inflow of copious bits of information yet keep up with the play by visiting blogs, emails etc etc.

I can see managing this will be a challenge to my current preferred way of working.

Learning what is possible

What do I want to learn from the facilitating online course. I am a confident face to face presenter/facilitator. But getting to grips with the challenges of mastering various programmes and translating this into the online environment is more difficult.

1. I want to develop a sense of what is good practice when facilitating asynchronous discussions.

2. I want to develop greater understanding of what is possible with synchronous tools online.

so I have 'survived' a first virtual class. still very new and scary this blog business. finding how to even add this post has been a challenge. Looking forward to becoming more competent in these e-learning e-communication tools.

Interesting to note the use of text throughout the session. maybe compensates for the need to wait so long to contribute. does one need ground rules about this kind of thing I wonder if it got too distracting. different challenges from face to face but the technology helps prevent too many interruptions if we remember to turn our mikes off.

some of the terminology way over my head still RSS feeds? A huge learning curve looms. I do like the synchronous 'classroom' better than the asynchronicity of email. Waiting days for responses kind of loses the spontaneity of the moment.