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Online
Interactive Writing Courses: What to Expect Online learning is flourishing in the Internet marketplace, and for good
reason. Online courses open the door to people who live all over the world;
people who may have limited financial, social, and time resources; and people
who might otherwise find themselves intimidated in a classroom setting. The
traditional educational system caters to those with access to money, time, and
self-confidence about group learning. For people who are living in the margins,
placed there either by religious, cultural, gender, ethnic, physical, or
lifestyle differences, online learning can be a comfortable and accessible way
to explore new realms of knowledge, and to make connections with others as well.
People who are exploring creative paths on a journey of self-transformation
often fall into this group, especially if their life circumstances are
isolating. An online course, while not a substitute for face-to-face
interaction, can provide a community of kindred spirits and encouragement. What you have the right to expect from your online learning experience Form my online experience both as a learner and as a teacher, I believe that
the online learning experience should be accessible, interesting, challenging,
and non-competitive. Teachers should respect the learner’s right to the
highest quality content and interaction that they have to offer. I believe that
online learning, when done right, includes all the compassion, wisdom,
knowledge, and professional experience that teachers possess, and provides all
of us in the global community with an opportunity to learn from each other. How it Works Online writing courses are commonly an interactive experience. An interactive
course usually means the course offers the following: content on a scheduled
basis, usually weekly; opportunity to receive feedback on written exercises; and
either one-on-one or group interaction throughout the course.
These courses are heavily dependent on your own participation for
success; otherwise, you could just read a book on the topic! Courses on writing, the creative process, the business of writing and
creativity, however, are ideally suited for an online format. Learning and
writing practice are interwoven into a combined experience, allowing both the
instructor and the student to benefit from the interaction. What to look for in an instructor Since the online marketplace is not restricted by the traditional methods of
determining qualifications for teaching, people are free to offer a course on
any topic they can think up. It is up to you to consider certain factors in
making your decision about what to take. These might include:
Because there is no institutional “gatekeeper” setting standards for the
course content, it’s ultimately up to the instructor to apply standards of
quality, expertise, and ethics when researching, writing, and teaching their
online course. If you are taking the course through an existing reliable web
site such as Absolutewrite, where writing professionals assess the quality of
the material and the instructor’s qualifications, you have the confidence of
knowing the course and the instructor have met certain standards. Otherwise, you
are on your own. Ask yourself, before you sign up, whether or not you are
willing to risk your time and money. Read the refund policy, think realistically
about how much time you have to invest and if you are still not sure, write to
the website owner and ask questions. They should be happy to provide you with
further feedback. You should know up front how much interaction to expect, and how often the instructor will be available. Most sites ask their instructors to respond within 24 hours to e-mail, unless something comes up, and then the instructor should notify you if they will be unavailable. Naturally, you don’t want to bombard your instructor with endless e-mail- give them a chance to respond, and stay within the boundaries of the course content. If you want to ask questions that are not directly related to the course content, or you want to submit work to them that is not part of the course assignments, then check with them first to see if they are okay with that. Most instructors are also working writers or artists like yourself, and need to set limits on their time. Don’t take it personally if they do not appear willing to read and critique your novel (unless you have signed up for that) or when they don’t want to help you market your work (unless it’s a marketing course). In my experience, most online instructors are generous with their online
time: they like teaching and writing online; otherwise they wouldn’t be
teaching an online course. So while you have the right to feedback that is
pertinent, thoughtful, and given in a timely fashion, try to respect the
boundaries of the course. On the other hand, you also have the right to set
boundaries- if for any reason you feel like an instructor is commenting
inappropriately on your work or your personal life, contact the hosting site and
discuss it with someone there. Like any traditional classroom learning experience,
we like to know what will happen over the length of a course. Look for a
syllabus, course objectives, what to expect in terms of the writing commitment,
and what kind of feedback you can expect. Are they offering editing advice?
Constructive criticism? General encouragement and support? Look to see if they
have made their teaching style and learning objectives as clear as possible up
front. What to Expect from Yourself in Order to Succeed When deciding to take an online course, you should
ask yourself the following questions: 1.
Will I be able to absorb and learn the content online? (i.e. am I
self-motivated? Able to learn through reading as opposed to lecturing? Am I an
independent thinker? Self-disciplined?) 3.
Do I need some traditional academic training for this course? What level
of training will I need in order to benefit from the content? 4.
Am I going to have the attention span needed for the length of course I
want to take? Not everyone thrives in an online
learning environment. You may have a short attention span, feel uncomfortable
with technology, lack the particular level of knowledge needed, or lack
self-motivation, There are however, ways to try and accommodate as much of these
obstacles as possible. Here are different things to look for in the course that
will minimize these obstacles. Things to Consider in
Interactive Courses The following obstacles may arise
when you take an interactive course.
Many students sign up for online
courses and then disappear. This may occur for several reasons: you might be
overly optimistic about your available time; you were unclear about the nature
of the content; you are afraid of failure; you don’t feel equal to the task
because the material is too hard, or asks too much of you. Or, you may get sick,
or decided to go on vacation at the last minute, and so on. Online learning
provides you with the freedom to disappear. Because interactive courses are
built around the concept of participation, try to use the presence of the group
and your instructor, as motivators. Check in with them more than once a week.
Ask for suggestions on how to stay committed to the process. Remember,
this is your learning experience, so be proactive. I have never felt like a
student contacted me “too much.” Most instructors will welcome your contact-
it makes the process more interesting for them as well.
For the most part, people who sign
up for an online course are already familiar with computer technology. However,
if the technology for the course requires that you set up passwords for message
boards or execute a download and you are unsure about how to proceed, ask
questions. The instructor or web site owners should be happy to assist you,
because they learn too, about what their students need to know in order to
succeed. You must also consider that fact that not all courses are designed with
same level of technology. If you take a course with lots of graphics, or you are
required to visit many links through out each lesson, those with access to
limited technology, such as older systems or slow connections, or who face time
constraints, may be frustrated and even resentful. Make sure you figure out what
will be required of you before you sign up, and let the instructor know if the
technology is impeding your ability to learn.
Reading the course description
should help you decide if the tone, attitude, and course content seem suitable
for your level of learning. Most
instructors will compose their content in the vocabulary, tone, and style that
comes naturally to them. Ideally, the content is aimed at a wider audience, not
written in dense, academic prose. On the other hand, you don’t want to take a
course that has been “dumbed
down” or patronizes you. Trust your intuitive reaction to the course
description, and ask for further information if you still need help deciding. Positive Outcomes I believe that online learning is a great gift to us all. Through the interactive experience, we connect with others who share our interests and even our driving passions. We work independently, we are treated as adults, and we can fashion our learning experience so that it suit our lifestyles and our other commitments. We can learn any time, any place. We have access to interesting teachers, unique content, and a willing and compassionate audience for our work. As advocates for our own life choices, we give as much as we get. As writers, we soar above the constraints of traditional learning environments, as we put our skills and talents to work in our own best interest. So be a savvy shopper of online learning, and a thoughtful and active participant as you navigate your own creative journey. Sarah Stockton teaches "Spiritual Writing: An Introduction" at Absolute Write University. |
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