Which Type Are You?
I have taught Honors English in a variety of settings over the past 17 years. For a long time it was in the traditional classroom, but for the past five years or so, our Honors English class has been online. Let me tell you about the two basic types of Online Honors English students. I have developed these profiles after observing how students react to this new use for Internet technology:
Type 1: This student is naturally self-motivated, so getting the assignments in is never a problem. This student realizes that the assignments for this class aren't that difficult to complete and often takes advantage of the freedom offered by this cyber-class to express ideas that s/he might otherwise not bring up in a tradtional classroom. I've noticed that many of the most successful students in online courses are those who seldom participate in the traditional classroom. For some, this atmosphere is "safer" than a classroom of 35 other students, and the fact that you can take as much time as you need to construct a response and write it exactly as you want it presented is an advantage. Many of these students also go "above and beyond the call of duty." They are the ones who figure out how to use all the little technologies available: pictures on blogs, avatars, links, sound files, etc. Better yet, these students are willing to help others learn how to use these technologies to make their online experience richer. Type 1 students usually have no trouble coming up with material for their blogs because they have so many ideas they want to express; they discover that writing is not only a form of communication but a way of thinking more clearly. These are the students who spend time in the General Discussion forum of the class discussion board; they talk about things besides school assignments; they exchange ideas about things that matter to them; they share, provoke, question, and THINK without being ordered to. These students make the most of this experience, and consequently they learn the most from it.
Type 2: This student is not too thrilled with the idea of an online class. This might be because s/he is intimidated by the technology or because s/he prefers a traditional classroom setting where feedback is immediate and where the predominant form of communication is talking, not writing. Sometimes this student is one who has been forced into the class by Mom and Dad, and therefore takes on the challenge without much passion. Other times this student is simply so busy with other things in life that s/he thinks there is no time for this "extra" stuff. (Ironically, the students who are most often Type 1 are busier than those who are Type 2. For some reason, Type 2 students perceive their lives as too busy, and they often procrastinate and/or complain about the class, while Type 1 students see it as yet another opportunity to learn and/or interact with people and make new friends.) Type 2 students often see the class as nothing more than a silly distraction, and consequently they do not learn much from it.
At the end of The Pigman, John writes, "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less." The same thing can be said of Honors English: This class will be what you make of it--nothing more, nothing less. For many of you, this class will be a rich experience that you will enjoy. For some, it will be nothing but a chore. It is up to you decide.
What will you bring to this experience?
Type 1: This student is naturally self-motivated, so getting the assignments in is never a problem. This student realizes that the assignments for this class aren't that difficult to complete and often takes advantage of the freedom offered by this cyber-class to express ideas that s/he might otherwise not bring up in a tradtional classroom. I've noticed that many of the most successful students in online courses are those who seldom participate in the traditional classroom. For some, this atmosphere is "safer" than a classroom of 35 other students, and the fact that you can take as much time as you need to construct a response and write it exactly as you want it presented is an advantage. Many of these students also go "above and beyond the call of duty." They are the ones who figure out how to use all the little technologies available: pictures on blogs, avatars, links, sound files, etc. Better yet, these students are willing to help others learn how to use these technologies to make their online experience richer. Type 1 students usually have no trouble coming up with material for their blogs because they have so many ideas they want to express; they discover that writing is not only a form of communication but a way of thinking more clearly. These are the students who spend time in the General Discussion forum of the class discussion board; they talk about things besides school assignments; they exchange ideas about things that matter to them; they share, provoke, question, and THINK without being ordered to. These students make the most of this experience, and consequently they learn the most from it.
Type 2: This student is not too thrilled with the idea of an online class. This might be because s/he is intimidated by the technology or because s/he prefers a traditional classroom setting where feedback is immediate and where the predominant form of communication is talking, not writing. Sometimes this student is one who has been forced into the class by Mom and Dad, and therefore takes on the challenge without much passion. Other times this student is simply so busy with other things in life that s/he thinks there is no time for this "extra" stuff. (Ironically, the students who are most often Type 1 are busier than those who are Type 2. For some reason, Type 2 students perceive their lives as too busy, and they often procrastinate and/or complain about the class, while Type 1 students see it as yet another opportunity to learn and/or interact with people and make new friends.) Type 2 students often see the class as nothing more than a silly distraction, and consequently they do not learn much from it.
At the end of The Pigman, John writes, "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less." The same thing can be said of Honors English: This class will be what you make of it--nothing more, nothing less. For many of you, this class will be a rich experience that you will enjoy. For some, it will be nothing but a chore. It is up to you decide.
What will you bring to this experience?
posted by MRT at 8:54 AM
2 Comments:
You spelled traditional wrong on the beginning of the sixth line in the second paragraph, in case you didn't already know.
It might be better not to tell someone that they spelled something wrong, I understand that it was probably bugging you (trust me I know) but some people would get offended by it presumably, me. It might be good to be positive about all the things you say.
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