Online learning - Communicating Effectively

A benefit of online learning is that instructors have a wide variety of tools to communicate with their students: 
email, message boards, and video chat.

A variety of online tools are available for students and teachers in online learning programs like Blackboard and Canvas.  Email allows teachers and students to communicate through written messages, answering questions or asking for more details.  Message boards are for students to share their thoughts with their classmates and interact with the course content.  Finally, students and teachers can set appointments for video chats ranging from lectures and presentations, to evaluations, and Q & A Sessions. 

Additionally, students can upload their assignments in common formats like Microsoft Word and Power Point.  Outside of the online learning platform, students can link to popular video hosting sites like YouTube to upload video assignments. 

Now, I'm aware that there are challenges to communicating effectively.  Some challenges are: Arranging online meetings can be difficult, especially if people are in very different time zones. Students and teachers both need to have effective communication skills (written especially). Students and teachers both need to respond to communications in a timely manner (time management skills).

The positive thing here is that challenges can be overcome through knowledge and training.  

Location, Location, Location

•       Wycliffe members can continue their education regardless of their location.  Online courses offer flexibility for missionaries on the field, traveling, or on furlough.

A tenant of missionary life is constant mobility.  Individuals and families are constantly on the move.  Within our home countries we travel for visits, speaking engagements, and meetings.  In overseas assignments, there’s constant travel to and from village allocations, to and from conferences, and language school.  Traveling can involve walking on foot, riding in the back of open trucks, or crowded buses. 

Working with an organization like Wycliffe involves studying, training, and continuing education.  Why?  Because work that involves linguistics, anthropology, and education/literacy is highly specialized and constantly evolving.  Research is done, new methods are tested, and new technology is integrated.  

Continuing education, studying, or training can involve studying on the campus of GIAL in Dallas, TX (or another academic setting).  This means dedicating up to two years to exclusive study.  Online learning gives missionaries the option of doing their coursework wherever they are.  Online learning offers flexibility for busy missionaries and their families.

New Assignment - Graduate Institute of Applied Lingusitcs

In over ten years of missionary service, I have given my life to minister to those to whom God has sent me. I have been blessed to teach art to missionary kids in Papua New Guinea. For the past seven years, the Lord has planted me in central Mississippi, where I have been working with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Through your partnership you have helped to make a difference in both of these areas.   

Now, I have exciting news to share!   

I’ve been invited to join GIAL (Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics) as Distance Education Instructional Designer.

GIAL exists to provide training and research opportunities leading to degrees in applied linguistics, culture studies, and development of languages. This training is essential for Bible Translators and cross-cultural workers to be effective in their new roles.
The goal of distance education and online courses is to make this training available to those working on their degree requirements from remote locations.

As Distance Education Instructional Designer, my education and experience comes together in a unique way:

* I completed my MA at GIAL in 2010, so I’ve taken many of the classes that will be offered online.
* Seven years of experience working in different roles with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
* Completing challenging coursework and dissertation research with JSU
* I have been teaching 1-2 courses every semester for JSU online as an adjunct instructor.