In a world that is becoming more digital, the promotion of an active teaching and learning strategies and processes using technology is a matter of concern which should be addressed quickly and effectively by more students, educators, and institutions.
– Dr. Aitza M Haddad Núñez
The online learning process is one that is normally accelerated – compared to the traditional learning process – and requires great commitment on the part of both the student and the educator. Like the facilitator, the online student has unique qualities. And just as many great instructors may not be effective online facilitators, not all students possess the qualities necessary to perform well online. For example, keeping up with the class and completing all work on time is vital for the student since once the student is late, it is almost impossible to catch up. Similarly, the educator needs to be able to develop specific strategies for contacting students to remind them of the need to keep up-to-date, and to offer assistance, such as including referral links to resources and tips for their students to use to help them become most successful online. Basically, both the educator and the student genuinely need to want and / or need the experience. And it is here where the greatest challenge of online education arises; keep the student motivated to be actively involved (Sun & Chen, 2016).
There is literature that does suggests that small study groups may be an effective professional development strategy. This is so because study groups have the ability to provide a safe forum for students alike to find mutual support, improve their communication skills, and to gain comfort asking for and offering help by creating a sense of commitment, responsibility, and accountability.
Online students used to consist mainly of hardworking people trying to improve their life chances. However, this dynamic is changing. As more and more young and old become aware of the online model, more and more people decide to transition from the traditional classroom and become part of the digital world. Therefore, even though the traditional classroom will surely never disappear, the online classroom has begun to take an important role in today’s educational community.
From Cragan, J. F., Wright, D. W., & Kasch, C. R. (2008). Communication in small groups: Theory, process, and skills. Nelson Education.
Lessons from Geese is widely available on the internet; its author is generally listed as unknown. It has been suggested that Lessons from Geese is originally transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arriien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson.
When you see geese and other birds flying along in the “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an up-lift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who are part of a team and share a common direction get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the trust of one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock.
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will share information with those who are headed the same way we are going.
When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose takes over.
It pays to share leadership and take turns doing hard jobs.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed.
Words of support and inspiration help energize those on the front line, helping them to keep pace in spite of the day-to-day pressure and fatigue.
Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by a gunshot and falls out, two geese fall out of the formation and follow the injured one down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out with another formation to catch up with their group.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other when things get rough.
The word ‘inclusion’, when used in aneducational context, continues to be somewhat paradoxical for many observers. Inclusion in its most general sense refers to the right to active participation and achieving equity through engagement in all aspects of daily life. The concept is founded in human rights principles and is evident in many of the international agreements that we have legally committed to.
– Hyde, M. (2014). Understanding diversity, inclusion and engagement. Diversity, inclusion and engagement, 3-38.
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