I currently have a BA in History, and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Howard University.
Through my college experience, I have had issues with both the lack of rigor in a few of my courses, and the fact that many classmates were OK with it, especially if it was something I was passionate about. The "water cooler" conversation, once I entered the work force, mentioned an easier way to further ones education without sitting in the classroom and having to deal with classmates. For years I did not entertain the notion, because much of what I learned in school was from the long hours of conversations and group work with classmates.
Around this time, just one year ago, I had the pleasure of assisting StudyWiz Spark with the promotion and explanation of the real world application of their product at the 2009 ISTE Conference. This was a great experience. Shortly afterward, I heard of a collaborative program with ISTE and Johns Hopkins University. At this point I was everything ISTE, as if I just opened my first MAC after my PC crashed. I was truly intrigued, and began to research the program. It was now time for me to go back to school. This was to be my first online course.
In just two weeks of orientation, I have found that Online Learning is not a breeze. It requires commitment to hard, productive, and collaborative work. You will not be able to learn in isolation. You have to foster relationships with classmates and teachers just as you would in the traditional setting. In a way, it is more difficult because you are not face to face. It also requires an enormous amount of discipline and dedication. You still have to prioritize, balance, and juggle everything around your educational goals. It is not a place for the procrastinator or the individual looking for an easy ride.
If you are not ready to hit a home run with your education through online learning, do not step up to bat. It is a place only for those committed to their passion and committed to excellence. I am so very happy and blessed to be here at this point of my life.
Let's go JHU & ISTE, I'm READY!
