O.k. I had students, at least 16 of them but, I couldn’t see a single one of them. Yesterday I taught my first “live-online” class. i.e. I’m talking into a microphone and sending out PowerPoint slides to students all over the country who are logged into my HorizonWimba virtual classroom. I talked for a straight hour and ten minutes (no jokes please) and it was exhausting. I know I talk for work all the time but usually there are breaks in which I get to listen to student’s questions. In this case I only received two, and they were submitted via text chat so I just worked in the answers while I was talking. The student evaluations don’t go out until Monday but initial response to the session was positive. I’m still not sure I’m comfortable with teaching to a group that I can’t see but I’m sure I’ll get over it eventually.
Published by Michael Sauers
Michael Sauers is the Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
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