Blog #5 - Session 5 - E-facilitation

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the urgency to go online. This last session has given me an opportunity to apply what I've learned throughout the ED403 course. I get to participate in designing a short online course.

In session 5, I learned first-hand how to design and run an online course. Working with my team and delivering a course online was a wonderful experience. We allocate each day for each member and were each tasked to create the content and learning activities for each day. A final assessment was offered on the last day of the course. This tests students' understanding of the course.

I designed the course content for days 2 and 3. I was given the opportunity to showcase the challenges of online learning in the context of the Solomon Islands. The two main challenges discussed were affordability and accessibility. These issues were related. One commonality between these two is the lack of ICT infrastructures. Other challenges such as staff and student training were also major issues for the PICs. These were summarized and articulated in chapters. Links and references were provided for students to further explore the topics. At the end of the reading materials, students were allowed the opportunity to share and discuss in the discussion forum. 

Day 1, 4 & 5 also provide exciting online learning experiences, especially looking into the future of online learning in the PICs. I am optimistic that the future of education in the PICs will change for the better. There're numerous learning software and tools that can enrich the online learning environment. These are interesting times and it calls for innovative pedagogies and strategies to address the needs of the modern world. 

It's amazing how technology help in creating a short course that runs as smooth or even better than F2F mode. It is convenient and efficient. Students get to engage more as well. The use of learning analytics is a game-changer. The Moodle analytics makes it easier to track student engagements. I will definitely find out how to utilize this in SINU Moodle for my students. The paper evaluation 'thing' is consuming too much time and effort. Indeed! technology makes learning more efficient and convenient. 

I deeply appreciate what I learned from the remaining weeks of the ED403. It helped me think about how I will design and deliver the Human Anatomy and Physiology course in the learning management system that SINU employs. It is not merely thinking though, I am ready to implement it for a semester-long course. Also, help promote it for other units under my faculty, especially the theoretical unit which could easily transform into full online courses.

Truly appreciate the relevance of this ED403 course!