Online Teaching

     In the article "The Advantages of the Self-Motivated Learner and the Digital Class," Keith Lockwood expounds on the many advantages of online learning. He states that many students become so used to memorizing information and responding in the traditional ways, and because of this, many students aren't really engaged in the learning process. Lockwood presents a solution for this -- online teaching. He discusses how students  and teachers are expected to remain "equally engaged" in the learning, since there is always new routes, more material, and different mediums of responses. For Lockwood, online learning becomes a way for students to actually learn for the sake of learning, rather than to achieve a better grade.
     In my classroom, this can be effectively integrated into my teaching through engaging the students in different ways so we forget about the grade, and focus more on the learning itself. Since I don't currently plan on teaching only online classes, my own view is a little biased towards the hybrid learning, but I can definitely see the value of the online class. I think that sometimes, especially in college courses, online classes are written off as unimportant, and a waste of time. However, I think if they are done right, with continual engagement, and different ways to respond/think about the material, online teaching can be very effective. In my own classroom, I love the idea of supplementing learning with online components that can be accessed even after leaving my class. Hopefully, the students will be exposed continuously to media that is beyond memes or status updates.
     This will help my students begin to think about the world differently as they engage with a different model of teaching. I also think that it will improve their own learning skills and self-efficacy to participate in a tech universe that they are already comfortable with. If the students understand how technology can be used, then as they go on to the field, they will already know what is available to them.
     My goals for this topic are to become more knowledgeable in the resources that are available  to me, and to try actually implementing an online lesson. This could even work on a day when we have a sub, and access to technology. I want the students to feel like their time was spent well in my class. This also shapes my own definition of learning for  kids. I want students to feel empowered, so if bringing technology and learning into my classroom is what does it, then that is the answer.

Lockwood, Keith. "The Advantages of the Self-Motivated Learner and the Digital Class." Education Week  February 21, 2018. http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers/2018/02/the_advantages_of_the_self-mot.html?qs=online+teaching