Online learning with ETAP687: Summer 2008

My name is Geralynn Demarest, Librarian and Associate Professor of Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, NY.  Before Librarianship, I was a computer technician for 11 years at the College and always loved (and still do) learning anything about computers. My current position as Library Director still involves keeping up with the latest technologies. I have been employed at CGCC for 20 years.  I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a Master’s degree in Library science and a second Master’s degree in instructional technologies. There’s great stuff to learn here and I value making time to improve my professional skills. I am taking this course as a beginning course to my PhD in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technologies.    I developed an online library skills course in 2002.  I offer it each semester to students and many faculty members give extra credit to students who take the course.   We use Blackboard as our course management system.   I am also a student of online learning environments throughout the years.  I have taken half of my second Master’s degree online and I’ve continued to take online courses in a variety of subjects for professional development over the years.  From that experience, I have learned about my own preferred learning style and think about how and why I am successful at online learning.  This self-study is what I consider real experience gained so that I can create a successful online experience for my students.  It is hard to pinpoint what one thing I would want to learn from this course when there are so many valuable learning experiences to take away from a course like this.  If I had to nail down one thing, I’d say it’s to get caught up on all the latest technologies such as moodle and other instructional technologies that faculty are using today. 
 I am the main caregiver for my parents, as I live with them.  In my spare time, I ride a Harley, hike in the Catskills, do step aerobics, read, and exercise our 5 jack russells!