In this final blog, we are asked to reflect about lessons learnt and future practices. To summarize, in the beginning of the course I was kind of LOST. Unknown course concepts, challenges and people lying ahead and on top of it: online… Got enough of online in 2020 I wanted to shout, but well, what can you do?! I really wanted to learn more.

And then, at the end of the course, it turned out that I have been… maybe not “FOUND” or rescued, but I have encountered and met ideas, tools, concepts and people, and in some way that experience has made me calmer even though I realise now even more than before the ONL course how much I don’t know and master.

We were given some questions we could answer and I think would like to share my answer to one of them:

“What are the most important things that you have learnt through your engagement in the ONL course? Why?”

I have been aware of the importance to activate students before the course, but I have for the first time really experienced the power of collaborative learning, what a Community of Inquiry can achieve. It has been great to be put into the shoes of a student and to experience this, but I also think I have been very lucky with my PBL group: what would have happened if I wouldn’t have met these wonderful people? I think my learning would have looked much different and I think it would have been… worse. 

How can I make sure that my students will have a positive experience if I incorporate collaborative learning in a greater extend into our course(s)? What other means can I use to activate them? Will we be able to provide the framework and instruction/facilitation that is needed to achieve a good outcome? The resources are of course limited. Will it be possible considering the constraints from the existing structures in our programs and courses to do something good? 

I know for sure I am not finished with the ONL course. I want to learn more about some theories for example, such as Lev Vygotskij’s and John Dewey’s ideas, and of course, I want to read more of my course colleagues’ blogs and presentations (please don’t delete them;-)), and I am sure there will be more to read once I do that! 

At the very end, I again would like to adress the other course participants, the course organisers and especially my PBL group (Erica, Kristina, Maria, Mats, Patricia, Ting, and the facilitators Anna and Gregor): you have really made this course special and I would not have managed without you! I hope we will stay in touch and continue to support each other and to have fun sometimes:-)

Stay safe!