Over the past 11 weeks, I was a participant of the Open Networked Learning Course (ONL 181) and what an experience in openness, network and learning it was. Here are my reflections on some of the lessons that I have learnt:

Clear as sausage sauce – this is a saying our course facilitator, Lotta Åbjörnsson had mentioned during the welcoming and connecting part of the course, and it has since stuck with me as it encapsulates those feelings at the start of this course, but equally the start of any course or project. Indeed everything and anything is then as unclear as it could be. The outcomes, the requirements, the participants, the different cultures and background, the tools to be used, make it a murky mix. This course gave me an opportunity to stand in my student’s shoes and experience those feelings. But it also allowed me to gain exposure to models to navigate the murkiness – the FISh Model with its easy-to-use  and steps-based approach (focus, investigate and share) is a definite take-away that I will implement in my own research, and courses.

Not to remain fossilized in pre-digital habits – David Whyte had mentioned this in relation to the divide that appears to exist in respect of different generations when it comes to digital literacies, the latter was focus of topic 1. Yet it is an apt phrase that I will try to apply as motto in my teaching and course design. It is easy to just retain and apply the traditional, but online learning presents such a vast array of tools that can be used to stimulate learning and allow for collaboration so why not try it?  Online learning also has different needs than traditional face-to-face so that just transposing habits is insufficient. This course set a wonderful example of encouraging us to try to different tools, to interact via different mediums, but also to do some introspection as to our own online participation and where we are on the continuum of being digital visitors and residents.

 To give without giving away. Openness in education, the focus of Topic 2, is an ideal that I think one should strive for as it allows access, and as Kay Oddone had mentioned, sharing one’s teaching or knowledge is like sharing a candle, it doesn’t diminish it flame. Thomas Jefferson had earlier phrased it as, “He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.” But it also a difficult ideal – firstly it is nuanced, openness means different things to different people, we are all individuals and have our own levels of what we feel comfortable with, secondly it also has potential downsides, there are the security, legal and privacy concerns, but also in a market system anything that is free often becomes less appealing, and is not entirely free as it comes at a cost of something else, and the question is whether universities with its commitment to quality, with large bodies of staff, will be the cost for a mere digital product? Hopefully not, I’m holding out for this to be properly managed and a balance to be found. The course has made me reflect on this aspect and it also taught me how to use others or share my own material in a more responsible (creative commons licenses) manner, and to be aware of some of the restrictions in using resources.

A rich learning environment. Technology brings about an opportunity to not only learn content and skills, but also interact with people across the world and to learn from each other. This course is a case in point. I tend to agree with Dr Alexander who is quoted in European Commission’s “The State of Digital Education” as saying, “The only solution to today’s problems it to collaborate radically across borders, across sectors, across populations, across professions as openly as possible, so we can think collectively.” It broadens one’s perspective and insights when there is a diversity of participants. The course also made us explore whether when something is said to be collaborative, whether it really is collaborative as many a times it is individual contributions dressed up as a collaborative effort. We looked at the essentials of effective collaboration, the focus of topic 3, such as good communication, clear goals, good facilitation and scaffolding, motivation of the team members and a collaborative understanding. I would like to implement more collaboration in my courses, first among  my students, and hopefully one day, with others on the continent or world, and will think back to these aspects as necessary building blocks for successful collaboration.

A memorable experience. This course has been such an experience, and I found myself asking why and having to agree with Dr Cleveland-Innes who has said in her webinar, the most memorable experiences in education are those where we remember our fellow students or the impact a teacher/facilitator made. The design models we studied in topic 4, all emphasized the importance of human interaction in the online and blended environment. There is a need for interaction, for feedback, for a community to be created, so to trump those factors derailing student’s success: feelings of isolation, lack of motivation. These are not necessarily easy to control, but at least with a plan (or model) in place, it can create the framework for students to be more successful in their studies.

Green answers to blue questions. I started off this course by saying that I wish to

 “learn more about using online learning tools, and how technology can assist in sharing and facilitating collaboration amongst students, educators and colleagues…. I am very much looking forward to meeting and connecting with colleagues all across the world in this journey… and I hope that we will have fun too!”

 Now that we have reached the end of the course, I can truly say that the course has given me an opportunity to do just that. Even though I feel that I may just have touched the surface of the wide and deep online learning and pedagogy sea, and still give green answers to blue questions, I am grateful to this course, the course conveners, our facilitators and participants, for sharing so much with us, and for allowing us to experience and explore so much, to try to find answers and in so doing make ourselves and (hopefully) the world around us just a tad better… whilst having fun all along the way!