I chose to reflect on the online presentation, “How Distance Changes Everything,” by Jon Dron. I chose to reflect on this resource this week because it was interesting to listen to his points and ideas, while comparing them to my own learning in-person vs online.
During the designated section of the video (2:55-30:00), he speaks on the history, science and pedagogy of the two learning styles. He explains the different parts of an in-person lecture. For example he talks about physically standing infront of a group of students to teach them or how the idea of lectures started with one person reading from a shared text in hopes to teach others. He expresses the struggles with in class learning for example, structured timetables and specific expectations.
He then goes onto who holds the control of the learning in an in person compared to an online-asynchronous class. Students take over the control of their own learning when it is online based, they are now self motivators and it is up to them to get things done!
This presentation dove into how he would structure his teachings and the ideas of a rewarding system that would encourage students through their studies even if it was an online teaching format. Seen in the photo below, he demonstrates that his focus was less common ways of assessing and more on making sure that he knew his students were reaching the set outcomes.

Personally, the freedom that is granted to students in online classes is not something that I particularly enjoy. I always make it work and I can be very self motivated when I want to be. When it comes to an online class it can get hard to stay on track and constantly keep on top of everything! Along with this, I like to be told what I am going to be doing, how I need to be doing it and when it needs to be done. I find projects that are very inquiry based and student led are more difficult to get through. I am hopeful that the online technology courses I am taking this summer will help me in my struggle of this type of learning.
Dron made good points throughout his presentation and highlighted the positives of distanced learning. Although distanced learning is not my favourite and I work better in a physical classroom, Dron made good points on how it could work best for certain people!
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