A few weeks back the online program was down for a whole week. Gotta love technology.
Was thinking other day that there should be an easy (operative word being easy) rulebook or guidelines for this system, because whomever designed it clearly did not involve the end user, the adult end user that is. Especially one that is taking an online course for the very first time.
I tried looking for something but all I found was characteristics of the adult learner and or, teaching the adult learner. Yes we are a different group, we think and react completely different. When I first learned the Blackboard 1 system I was in the classroom with a teacher. Good. They took a bit a time, not as much as I would have liked, but still it was something to show us a few things. So for their next generation Blackboard 2 that was similar we had no guidance. No teacher actually showing me where to go and I was left on my own to figure it out.
So what does the adult learner do:
Step 2. Email (that is once you figure out how to do it on the new system) your teacher asking a lot of course related questions. And if you happen to be put into a group for assignments, chances are that they are in the same boat. It’s the blind leading the blind. Plus you may end up to babying the young ones. I’m really am too old to chase some people’s children down to get them to do their part of an assignment. Your teachers will probably curse your name upon seeing yet another email from you, but meh, they are there to guide you, non?
Step 3. Now calm down. Chances are you’ve probably read too much into what is needed to be done. You see young people don’t have all those so called live experiences that were supposed to have, so I know when I look at problem/question I over think it. I’m like it can’t be that simple, right. But guess what, it can be. We Adults like things straightforward. So when you first look at Blackboard 2 with all your online course stuff coming at you from every direction and you think your mind is going to explode. You might even find yourself saying “what have I gotten myself into”, don’t you dare quit. Take a deep breath, pray you don’t strangle someone and relax a bit.
Maybe I’ll end up writing out more steps as I go along. However, I don’t have time to fully write and or read another thing. I’m not working today (notice the time of this post) but I’m behind with both with school and home life. I’m doing laundry right now (again notice the time) Ahh the joys of the adult learner.
So that’s where I am right now, steps to be hopefully continued.
dee
