I have always considered my role as a teacher to be as a facilitator of learning. I believe that it is sound teaching practice to allow students to explore and take ownership of their own learning. Taking the certification classes for online/blended learning has reinforced this belief in me. Teaching in an online environment, or even in the blended environment that I teach in full-time, I have had to let go of the reigns and allow my students to be in charge of their own learning. I have had to work more as a facilitator and coach than I did in the traditional classroom. The really amazing thing is that taking these certification classes has showed me that allowing students to learn this way, a way that I believe is most beneficial for them, is something that I could take back to a traditional classroom should I return to that one day. I have learned through my work in these courses that students respond well to the different techniques that I was able to share with them. Creating opportunities for collaboration online was very successful with my students. It also forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and use technology that I had not used before, and that was a benefit for everyone. In all, the blended/online classes taught things that are the future of education and just good teaching practice in general. The strategies I learned are great for the blended/online environment and show that all classrooms should at least be blended. Technology is a necessary part of education. If we don't expose our students to technology, we are not setting them up for success in the global society in which we live.
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