CEdO 550 Post#4

This week involves the creation of a synchronous lesson concerning Internet safety. From what I have seen so far, the fifteen minutes alloted for the lesson moves extremely quickly. I know that I currently have too much information, so I will have to pare that down to a manageable amount. The biggest unknown factor will involve class discussion time. Discussion should be an important factor in the lesson, but the delivery of content is also important. A proper blend of both will be the key to the lesson. I have enjoyed our time using Elluminate for this class, and taking over the driver's seat will an interesting challenge. Elluminate provides so many tools, but fifteen minutes will limit the amount of tools utilized during the lesson.
My topic of Internet safety is one that has special meaning to me. My boys are at the ages that they are starting to explore the Internet, and I want to make sure that they are safe while exploring. Being aware of tools that are available to protect my kids are important to me, but knowing what I am protecting them from is also important. There are so many possible safety threats created daily, that it can be a dizzying task to stay informed. This class has gotten me thinking more about the safety threats in an online environment. At the same time, this environment can present positive experiences for my kids and students. As teachers, we are in a great position to teach students how to behave in an online environment. We cannot assume that this education is happening at home, but my hope is that schools and homes are providing an adequate education concerning Internet use.
Through facilitating the asynchronous discussion, I have concerns about whether or not I could teach online. From what I understand, online teachers often have larger classes. Feedback is always important in my classes, but it takes significant time to offer what I think is adequate feedback. To be in a position where feedback is limited because of time constraints is not something that is of interest to me. With that said, perhaps I am wrong concerning online class sizes, but it certainly is an area that I want to learn more about.