What Does Pedagogy Mean to You? 

I feel as though pedagogy is the method of how knowledge is shared, taught, and received. Pedagogy requires active involvement of both the learner and the teacher. As a very social individual I enjoy collaborating with others in many ways, whether it be academic or socially with friends and family. I find it very interesting to learn the different learning styles of other individuals. Sometimes I might be explaining something to another person and although it makes total sense in my head they are not understanding, therefore using what we have learned in this module I would try different methods and strategies of delivering that information in a way they might understand better. 

Networked Pedagogy in Action

Networked pedagogy has made online collaboration much easier for our generation. By utilizing platforms such as zoom, discord, google docs, etc. students and professors are able to contribute information and ideas in a quick and efficient manner. As well it creates a way to connect with others who have similar interests and studies no matter their geographical location. As learning is slowly becoming more technology heavy rather than simply traditional classroom teaching, the use of online resources can aid in the possible lack of social interaction between students. 

Learning Theories in Practice

The learning theory I resonate most with would definitely be constructivism. I am a very active learner and enjoy using real life experiences to shape my understanding on learning content. Being a psychology major the entire focus of my academic learning surrounds the study of how humans think, feel, and interact with others. There are many theories and terms that apply to everyday life that are relatable to all. Psychology is a very discussion heavy course which can easily be applied during online learning with the help of online meeting platforms such as zoom and discord as well as online discussion forums where users are able to contribute thoughts and ideas as well as interact with other classmates by responding to their posts. 

The Role of the Instructor in an Online Course

I have always found that an instructor can greatly impact the enjoyment of a course. Online courses can be a bit more challenging as the professor must be committed to being actively online when possible. For in person courses if a student has a question they can simply raise a hand during lecture or wait till after class and propose their question being able to do so they get an immediate response or suggestion of how they might get the answer they are looking for. During an online course students do not have that in person time with their teacher, therefore we are left to sending email, posting questions or comments on course sites, etc. I feel as though if a teacher agrees to teach an online course they need to be committed to making themselves easily accessible to students. A successful online teacher will create engaging content, interactive activities to promote connection between students, clear communication and instruction of assignments, and overall support for their students