WELCOME TO WEEK 3
Well, we are off to a terrific start!! I thought I would start our time together with a good laugh. Much research has been done on how laughter can actually reduce stress. The baby in the video is my grandson playing with my husband. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
The online postings/replies/discussions were great! I apologize greatly for the misunderstanding about the new blog that will be posted each week on D2L (under content). Because I did not communicate that as well as I should have I would like to go over it one more time.
The online postings/replies/discussions were great! I apologize greatly for the misunderstanding about the new blog that will be posted each week on D2L (under content). Because I did not communicate that as well as I should have I would like to go over it one more time.
Things that you can come to expect over this semester are:
· A weekly blog will appear onto D2L under content every Thursday by midnight (except on the weeks that we will be meeting in class).
· An email making you aware when I have uploaded the new blog link. This email will be sent to your UWRF email address so please check here often.
· I will send an email to you every time that I add something or modify information on our D2L site. For example, you might notice today that I have posted the information that I emailed you today in the “news section” of the front page of our D2L site.
· All items listed in the syllabus (i.e. readings, postings and discussions, etc.) are due by 1:00 on the Saturday they are listed in the syllabus.
· All items addressed in the “weekly blogs” are due the following Saturday. For example, I will post the Day 3 blog today, Thursday, February 9. In this blog, I will ask you to complete a few things. Please have those items completed by Saturday, February 18 at 1:00.
Let me take a minute to explain the “why”:
The way that I have set up the course is that on the days we meet “online” I try to provide a system similar to if we were meeting face-to-face that week. I want to create opportunities for you to engage in the content, engage with me in a meaningful way and finally, a way to collaborate with each other. In other words, if we were meeting face-to-face in a graduate-level course, you come to expect a few things: One being, I would give more information (content) and/or build from the content that was read in preparation for the course. Two, I would provide a “space” or time for you to discuss what was read in relation to the information that had been provided as well as with the prior knowledge that each of you bring to the community. Therefore, the “weekly” blog that I send you is a space to do this. Here is what you would do during class if we were meeting. On the syllabus is the same requirement that I would expect if we were meeting face-to-face.
Now some of you have asked what it means to meet “online." This will mean different things for the various weeks. For example, last week and this week it simply means going online at a time that works best for you (we all do NOT need to be online at the same time). That being said, please do make sure you are getting your items posted in a timely fashion so your group members are not waiting to complete a task. Try to be respectful to all the members in your group. Please feel free to use the coffee shop-open discussion area to share/discuss within your groups.
Some weeks we will need to meet together at one time. For example, I have placed you all in groups to get together to hold a literature discussion. Other weeks we will all need to be online “Google Hangout” at the same time to hold a discussion. I will do my best to give you plenty of notice to these meetings, so you can plan accordingly.
