#EDCMOOC   Now that I have spent hours trying to figure out how to add a post to this blog, I have learned lots more that I think the class designer/instructor needs to think about:

1) Our program participants will need better HELP using the tech tools that we want to utilize to deliver course content. And we may have to be responsible for ensuring its availability!

Although I am pretty computer savvy, when signing in to use Google blogger for this course, I couldn't seem to get to a page where I could add a post (this one, in fact). I even found (by going through every one of the Google Help categories) that HELP didn't help me in trying to figure out why I couldn't add a post to this blog. Finally I discovered that I had 2 accounts (with different emails and passwords). Troubleshooting this was NOT SIMPLE and needs to be.

2) As instructors, we must be sure that the tools, software, etc. we incorporate in our learning maps have clear step-by-step, how-to guides plus comprehensive HELP.

I believe it is important to remember that IT IS NOT ABOUT THE TECHNOLGY, IT'S ABOUT THE TOPIC.

Incorporating URLs and getting folks to the right page is very helpful. However, that may be just the beginning of what the learner needs. Struggling to use the technology as a learner can detract from maintaining a commitment to learning the content, itself.

 3) As instructors we need to keep it simple. Let students spend their time enriching themselves in the learning, not struggling with having to engage with all the bells and whistles technology we can throw at them.

I believe that this feeling of overwhelm that many have spoken of in this first week of the course has more to do with getting on board with all the tools we were to engage with, than the topic itself.