Week 11 Reflection

While I know it was not based on the most rigorous research model, I found Haavind's exploration of methods that promote collaboration and discussion among online students to be extremely useful. It seems to me that most teachers are dipping their toes into the online learning pool by using web tools like blogs and wikis to continue communication beyond the school day. Research like this gives teachers valuable pointers and strategies to make the most of online communications whether in a fully online or hybrid classroom. Although all of the techniques Haavind observed may not work, it certainly gives teachers an idea of where to start and what to try. I think this is the real value of researching online education--what it can do for teachers where the rubber meets the road.

This week's readings did not change my views of online ed much. Rather, they reinforced much of what I observed last week about the challenges of researching education. Tough though it is, I believe even more so that this is research worth pursuing.