Reflecting Upon LMS Use and Web 2.0 Tools

Hybrid and Blended Learning, LOTI Profile, Online Instruction, Online Teaching Practices, VLE 0 comments

Reflecting Upon LMS Use and Web 2.0 Tools

Professionally speaking, I have been working with the concept of VLE since 2008, and part of my training has been geared towards the use of LMS platforms and Web 2.0 tools to enhance student learning in the courses that I teach on a regular basis. Still I have a couple of concerns that somehow trouble me: my own ability in the use of tools to communicate with students and the lack of formal training by the IT Department at my teaching work place.

Working on a self-assessment of my own abilities to use Web 2.0 tools to communicate with students and to develop course content for my learners, I decided to use the benchmarks already established by the LoTi[1] Connection, which is an American educational consulting firm that specializes in the integration of 21^st Century skills into learning curricula. I started with the LoTi idea long ago when being trained by Prof. Deborah Healey and Prof. Sandra Jeffs from the American English Institute / Department of Linguistics, University of Oregon. LoTi has marked my Web 2.0 skills development to fully become an innovative user of technology to promote course content and assist students to achieve learning goals via technology. Based on the LoTi’s Level of Teaching Innovation Framework, I am now at the LoTi 6: Refinement level.

[1] LoTi = Levels of Technology Implementation

A LoTi 6: Refinement level is that one in which an instructors believes in “the pervasive use of and access to advanced digital resources [which] provides a seamless medium for information queries, creative problem-solving, student reflection, and/or product development. [Instructors] have ready access to and a complete understanding of a vast array of collaboration tools and related resources to accomplish learning outcomes beyond conventional strategies” (LoTi Connection 2011). With this in my professional and technological background, I feel quite confident in the use of virtual learning environments (VLES) and the use of Web 2.0 tools to enhance social, teaching, and cognitive presence within these teaching scenarios.

Barely have I been trained by the IT Department at my teaching site in the use of the university’s Moodle LMS platform; for this reason I now ask, “will we teachers get relevant and concise learning experiences [training] to become fully competent in how to really profit from our virtual classrooms? When the new Moodle platform was introduced at our university, we were given a very brief introduction on how to add content to its various features such as homework, chats, forums, and the like. However, the 60-minute training is not enough to become an “expert” user of the tool. For that reason I decided to enroll in a Moodle user’s free course to get really acquainted of how the platform can be fully used at its most potential. Although I feel confident with the things I have tried so far and with the results I have obtained, how could my learning have been if we teachers have at least been trained online on how to use all Moodle features?

As a conclusion, I must say that technologically and psychologically speaking I feel much more prepared to deal with VLEs now that I am taking my third module of the Online Hybrid and Blended Education Certificate. I really look forward to continue advancing through the rest of the modules to complete my formal training and become a much more competent and complete online instructor.