Week 2 Introduction to Course

 

      Welcome!  

I am Jane DeWitt, your facilitator for this course.  I live in Forked River, New Jersey, which is located in between two very popular summer resort locations; Seaside and Long Beach Island.  I am a special education instructor focused on continuing education and the adult learner.  I am an avid reader and writer that enjoys spending time at the beach with good friends and an interesting book. 

My professional time consists of research in the area of educational technology as well as Web site design and maintenance.   I earned my BA and teaching certification in the traditional brick and mortar Jersey City University and both my MS and Ed.S, utilizing the online learning environment of Walden University.  Since graduation from NJCU, over two decades ago, I have been involved in the area of education in one format or another and as a result have amassed a plethora of information and resources that I will be sharing with you throughout the course.   When I am not involved either teaching or researching, I am drawn to the ocean and find solace in the time I am able to spend there with my family.

My teaching experience started as a middle school special education instructor which evolved into my current position at the Community College where I am a full-time faculty member.  Depending on the term, I have taught all aspects of composition including teaching argumentative and persuasion classes for the college’s speech department.  Of the literature course, introduction to fiction and poetry, are a passion of mine.  I am one who is fond of words and what they do for us as humans in whatever form we find them.

Teaching is both a vocation and avocation for me and I value the connections made within the classroom.  I structure my teaching and interactions to afford my students the same enthusiasm of discovery that makes learning a life long journey for me.  Throughout this course, we will form connections with each other through active class discussions online in this virtual learning environment.

For those of you who have only taken face-to-face courses prior to this, welcome to the world of online learning!  I am hopeful that you will find this course intellectually challenging, informing, interactive, and fun.  If you have any questions, please contact me using either the email or number provided.  My virtual office hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST.   Additional conference time is available upon request. 

I look forward to getting to know each of you through your words and work in this class.  Please share with the class a brief, personal biography that will enable the class to better know you.  Feel free to include your personal and professional achievements and what you hope to accomplish from this course.   

This course aims to foster a sense of community, promote engagement in the curricular assignments, and to assist students in the development and application of critical thinking skills, and to help students continue to clarify their purpose and meaning utilizing the written language.  The goals and learning outcomes for this course were carefully formulated to ensure a relevant, sustainable and dynamic course design.  The learning goals and outcomes are tailored to meet the individual  needs of the students and to  strengthen the academic experience of the learner as well as  challenge the expertise of the instructor.  Please review the performance goals and learning outcomes for this course and then prepare performance goals that are specific to your academic endeavors.  Upon completion of your goals, post this information to the course discussion blog which is can be accessed with the following address:  www.course101blog.com.  Additionally, review the responses of your colleagues.

Goals and Learning Outcomes:

1.  Foster academic success

2.  Prepare students for responsible lives in a diverse, interconnected, and changing world

In an effort to assist each learner in their individual, educational journey it is helpful to know what your reasons for enrolling in this course and the context you intend to use the knowledge, skills, and perspectives obtained from this course. Provide a brief explanation of what you hope to achieve upon completion of this course and of where you see yourself in the next five years, the next ten, and the context of the changes you hope to incur. 

Looking forward to learning about you and beginning this class together.