As I am building this course, I have been attending some really intensive training for my new school.  It’s so cool that so many of the things I am learning in this course are really in line with the requirements for my new school.  Though I am really struggling with all the new information at school and in this course, I am looking forward to a time in the future when I’ve been using all this and it’s as natural as walking through the door.

One of the things that I really love about my online course is that it has allowed me to chunk the information into bite size pieces.  Some of my students really love to try and anticipate the next step, but often make mistakes when they anticipate the wrong thing!   I like to chunk my lessons into steps so that each bit leaves the students prepared for the next step.  Since the online course is week-by-week, when my students get through the first week’s materials, they will be ready for week two.  I have also added example materials (links, photos, videos, etc…) that will help students to visualize the concepts for each week.  My students will be using all materials to create responses in writing, video, audio, and in their own artworks.

The summative assessment will be a portfolio review of student works.  The formative assessments will be the reflection pieces and interactives within the course.  This will be a blended learning course, with students doing much of the online work at home and on lecture days and the artwork on studio days.  I am excited that my schedule includes one 90 minute course each week, and that makes for some excellent studio time!  Students will also get an hour of personalized learning time in which they may choose to come to the studio to work.  I am so excited to put this course to use!!!

I just found out that my school is going to use Google Classroom instead of Schoology this year, so I may move my materials over to Google before my students use this course.  I haven’t quite decided.  If I keep it on Schoology, the students won’t need any instruction on how to use it because the whole school used Schoology in the past.  I will need to check in with my administrators to see if they want me to keep with Schoology or if I have to use Google Classroom.  I am excited to try Google Classroom, so I am happy with either decision.