Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Importance of Feedback

It is amazing how differently students react to the course content and design, how differently reflect on the assignments. When the students are given an opportunity to voice their opinions and express their feedback on the course design and implementation, some of them use this chance to complain, get frustration out of their chests; but the majority seem to be glad to share positive feelings, excitement about the new learning; many develop understanding of how much technology brings to their personal and professional lives. Confidence and tolerance are the outcomes of this process. Most of the students stop being overwhelmed, feeling scared of using the Internet, stop being afraid of trying new technological tools, opening new accounts, joining new social networks.
I am grateful to my students for their sincere comments, insightful reflections, and constructive suggestions for the course improvement. I am open to this kind of feedback. It makes my teaching better. Isn't it the way to go? Isn't it the way to improve your course design and teaching? I will definitely use my students' constructive suggestions and re-design the rest of the course accordingly.
I am very proud of my students who opened their hearts and minds to the new learning. It will be reflected in their new ways of teaching. Here are some podcasts from the course:
Teaching with TecnologyHa3
,
TwT MIDTERM,
PodOmaticTake2,
MidtermReflection, , I am sure more podcasts are coming.

1 comment:

Augiedog said...

I just watched some of the posted YouTube video from the ed. conference at UC Berkeley. I was struck by one particular speaker, Sir Ken Robinson, for a variety of reasons. In general his delivery using humor, personal stories, and warmth were effective and strong. His content, creativity and literacy should be linked, speaks for so many. Breaking up intelligence into three parts, Diversity, dynamic, and distinctive allows for much more acceptance of people's differences. I even wrote down a quote of his to hang over my desk, "If you're not prepared to be wrong you'll never accomplish anything." Humility, acceptance of the human condition, and creativity go a long way.