Michael Gjere

Michael Gjere

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The only suggestion I would offer is to create some "discipline specific" class training.  I am sure that teaching Sociology has it's own unique needs compared to an art class.

 

Otherwise, this is good refresher material.

Discussion Comment
I have found that, for me, creating a course that appeals to students as well as helping them learn is really an ongoing process. I create a base file that I believe will work, and every session I add to it, or take things out that didn't work. I have also felt that, for a creative based classroom, giving live feedback on the previous "rock stars" in the group during a Live Chat helps foster discussion and tremendously boosts the drive of all students, because soon EVERYONE wants to show off their own skills and be critiqued.
My biggest hurdle for creating office hours with my students is the fact that, with 18 students all living in different parts of the country, it can be a bit of a problem finding the "right" time to best accomodate as many of the students as possible. So what has ended up happening, is I get calls late on Saturday night with questions. Sigh.
I am fortunate in the sense that I teach video game development. Fortunate that I work in an industry that is fun and interesting for the students (well ok... for me too). But the time I tried a guest lecturer ran into a bit of a snag for me. The friend that I had log in happened to be the "hero" of the gaming world for some of the students and it was very tough for me to hold them back from sounding like Chris Farley on SNL asking them things like: "Hey ... remember that game ? Yeah that was cool"
Keeping up with technology is not only a full time job, it is necessary to find it enjoyable. I can't believe how often I wonder "huh? What are they talking about?" and I have to google some new technology to keep up with them.

The main reason I am taking this course is simple; I am a big believer that education must continue to evolve in order that our graduates, specifically online graduates, can compete in the constantly changing technological world we live in. GONE are the days where you could teach a programming language more than 5 years. GONE are the days when you can assume any technology you teach will last more than 3 years at the max. And to do otherwise is simply this... laziness. And what happens when we don't move forward and adapt to the constantly growing and shifting… >>>

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