1.2 Reflection: Can a Procrastinator be an effective Online Learner?

Can a Procrastinator be an effective Online Learner?

I thought that with a houseful of teenagers and a full time job, I might not be able to successfully manage an online course.  Yet I am insatiably curious and I have a strong drive to pursue my career goals.  I was surprised to find out that even procrastinators can be effective Online Learners.  To find out if I could really handle it, I consulted the Test of Online Learning Success designed by Kerr, Kerr, and Rynearson.  After completing the self-assessment at http://distance.uh.edu/online_learning.html, I discovered that I may be better equipped for Online Learning than I thought. 

Many skills and competencies figure into the equation for Online Learning success.  A moderate procrastinator can still be successful in an Online Learning environment if they can compensate for one area of weakness with strengths in other areas.  The Test of Online Learning Success does measure the tendency to procrastinate but also considers computer skills, independent and dependent learning, academic skills and need for online delivery.   Learners are different, but you don’t have to be perfect to be an effective Online Learner. 

With reassurance from the Test of Online Learning Success, I am ready to pursue my goal of learning to deliver instruction in an online environment.  In ten years of teaching, I have developed a uniquely creative style of instruction, a host of technological skills and a strong science background.  With this course, I'm hoping to shift my career into Online Curriculum Design and Instruction.

I want to learn how to harness the power of the educational materials already on the web to  personalize learning for different types of learners.  I'm a fan of Barbara Bray(pictured at right) and her Personalized Learning strategies.  I am also interested in writing and designing online curriculum.  I would love to work with Discovery Education, NASA, Apple Computers, or United States Geological Survey.

Kerr, Marcel S., Marcus C. Kerr, and Kimberly Rynearson. "Test of Online Learning Success." University of Houston Distance Education. University of Houston, 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.