Module 8 - Assessment in E-Learning

WOW!  I am very impressed with everyone’s final projects.  Each student’s project shows a different strength that they possess as an online educator.  Jenifer displayed her ability to create a strong visual piece and Patricia’s attention to detail was present.  I thought this was an interesting aspect of the project that I had not expected to see.

I have learned that it is better to build in your documents versus providing them via web link because people may have trouble linking to them.  The problem with Weebly is that I have to pay extra to be able to embed items in the web site.  Instead, I had to use screen shots and embed items as an image.  Unfortunately, this did not allow for my course matrix (taxonomy table) to line up correctly.  Ugh!  For the most part, I loved working in Weebly and would use the site again in the future.  I think it is a great way to create an E-folio, display coursework, or use as a course management tool.

I enjoyed collaborating with fellow colleagues from across the country this semester.  I feel I have a better grasp on how to assess student learning and create an engaging online course.  Thank you everyone for contributing to my learning!

I am also VERY happy to have compiled the course activities and will be incorporating them into my online course plans this week! I have one week of MASSIVE prepping, a week of institutional planning, and school is back in session on Aug. 20th!! 

Since I will be teaching 7 classes this fall and teaching my first online class, I will not have time to take the Instructional Design course.  This is a real bummer!  I REALLY want to keep going, but I know I can’t until spring semester or summer.

Final Garden Update!

Watermelons are coming out of my ears!! I have 4 plants that have about 10 watermelons on their vines.  I cracked one open last night and they have about a good month to go before they are ripe.  My dog, of course, did not mind eating a few chunks of un-ripened watermelon!  Bailey, my English mastiff, decided to also eat two cucumbers, 2 apples from under the tree, 4 carrots, and 2 cherry tomatoes she stole out of my bowl!  I bet she had a stomach ache last night!

Since my watermelons are taking over the garden, I pulled out the remaining beets and onions.  The garden has finally produced green beans!  I also saw that my first eggplant and jalapenos are growing.  This is my first year growing eggplants and they seem to be doing extremely well in this weather.  (Now, if only my green peppers would do as well!  The plants look great, but have hardly any peppers.)  In addition, I have 5 pumpkins and 5 cantaloupes on the vine.  Luckily, my garden is going to slow down a bit until last August, when the watermelon, cantaloupe, and tomatoes will ripen.

Last Sunday night, we had an amazing dinner from the garden!  My uncle butchered chickens a few days prior and we roasted an amazingly large chicken.  Then, we dug up red potatoes and onions.  We fried them in pan with rosemary, butter, and other herbs.  To top it all off, we steamed some fresh green beans!  What an awesome, tasty meal!