My digital ecosystem: An e-learner, an
e-trainer and the "space between"
Since long time that I
entered the world of e-learning as a heavy MOOC-ker, I was very much interested
on the idea of how could one “be present” for the other through a digital mean
interaction and how a vibrant contact could be achieved. Both “contact” and
“presence” represent for me core human values. But where do they happen and get
experienced (if they do) when the communication takes place via technology and
there exist a “space between”?
The EDCMOOC course had
a substantial impact on me. I started questioning myself about the new
boundaries, which are shaped and the formation of a novel polarity: The digital
mean as being a hurdle to real contact –a dystopian approach- or a facilitator
to it –an utopian approach. I had to reflect on my personal e-learning
experiences as I had the opportunity to be an e-learner and an e-educator.
As a learner, what
keeps me MOOCking until 4:00 in the morning almost every night?
- I am really learning in a new and exciting
way
- I am thrilled by the experience of a bizarre
thing; a caring attitude, which “jumps out of my screen”. I feel the Professors
in my room teaching for me! Such dominant is their "presence". And I feel so
connected to them.
- I become engaged through the course
interactivity (in the forum discussions and by peer grading) and I am having
fun
- Feelings of pride, privilege and gratefulness
also spring.
What questions arise
from the above? What creates all these human attributes like
emotions, excitement, and feeling of being in contact through a digital
learning experience? Is it the persons on the other side of the screen, their behaviour and how I perceive it, or may
be the content?
All the above became
so precious to me that I continued diving in the on-line learning world with
endless excitement. And very recently I grasped the opportunity to develop an
e-learning course for the organization that I am working for. Here are some screen
shots:
The experience I had
as an e-learner was now redeemed in the way I was working on the e-course along
with my project team. We took a lot of care for
the preparation and execution of the course. I made it more personalized by
introducing, as part of the course, the project team and myself. This created
some kind of intimacy between the learners and myself though I didn't know and
never met any of them.
The feedback that I
received was outstanding. And then there were colleagues who wanted to develop
e-learning courses for the first time for them and their audiences as well, so they
were asking for some tips. And these are some of what I shared with them:
- It is a Change Management case. Take
appropriate and respective initiatives
- Turn resistance to assistance. Show care and
make yourself present and available. No special charisma is needed for that
- If you are the e-learning project leader,
take several e-courses for yourself before starting developing one
- Connect your e-courses to the business
outcome (sales results)
- Pay attention to experience: It becomes a
real experience when you talk about it after. So ask, get and share feedback
As I am reflecting
both cases, I realize that the same questions and the same feelings are popping
up. However my conclusion is that either as a learner, either as a teacher, when we develop and show a caring attitude for the other through
our digital means interactions, paradoxically, contact gets established despite
the “spooky space between”. And this contact is what enhances the learning and
frames our human identity in the digital world.
1 comment:
yesssssssssssss ;)
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