Teaching in pjs or suits – Art and design instructors’ attitudes toward eLearning

Description

Our session will focus on the attitudes of instructors teaching in online educational spaces. Our research has revealed that instructors have anxieties toward designing online courses and teaching online. These anxieties are fueled by an overall lack of experience in designing and teaching online courses. Providing answers to some of the questions posed in this theme, like “What is the presence of the instructor in online communities?”, “What does it mean to have an ‘authentic’ learning experience online?” and “How are educators using systems to build a sense of belonging?” can help to turn instructor anxieties to instructor excitement.

Timetable

Introductions - 10 minutes Ice breaker activity – 15 minutes Sharing research findings – 15 minutes Group activity – 15 minutes Conclusion/summary – 5 minutes

Interaction

Our session is designed to engage the audience throughout. We will open with an ice breaker activity, asking participants to identify the attitudes and emotions they associate with varying degrees of eLearning, from incorporating web-enhanced learning in the classroom to teaching fully online courses. After sharing our research findings, we will ask participants to brainstorm what actions and supports they need to alleviate any anxieties and/or further promote their engagement and excitement in eLearning. Collectively we will share experiences, answering the main questions participants have about eLearning, inspired by our theme Identity and Privacy in Online Educational Spaces.

Takeaway

Participants will develop and identify their attitudes toward eLearning and the questions they have about Identity and Privacy in Online Educational Spaces. They will share their own experiences and strategies and takeaway new strategies and answers to their questions. We, the facilitators, will takeaway new and/or additional viewpoints and attitudes toward eLearning, which will either reinforce or add to our research findings. We will determine the key questions participants have that if answered can alleviate some anxiety and promote engagement in eLearning as well as strategies they use or proposed in the session.

Outcomes

Our outcomes from the session will feed into our research and inform our strategy for engaging and supporting instructors in incorporating eLearning into their teaching