Situating Ourselves

This World: I live in Agassiz (the alpha and the omega - starts with A and end with Z) BC, in the old family farm house that has been in our family for over 110 years, and I work in Agassiz and Chilliwack.  My God-mother/Aunt, Franciscan Sister Anthony Therese, a teacher and social worker, inspired me with her love of teaching and working with people, especially those in need. When our son was growing up, we had a "family hug" at the beginning of the day before we all set off in different directions. Now, when we say good-bye after our Sunday visit with our son, daughter-in-law and two year old granddaughter, Rose, we have our "family hug".  Rose now gives us all a hug and kiss before we leave. I am deeply connected to our little Island 23 with the old farm house because when I walk out of the door and down the road, I see the sloughs with  beautiful Mt. Cheam in full view with the most breath-taking sunrises.  Sto:lo First Nations tradition says she is our "Mountain Mother" reaching her arms out to protect us. I have climbed her twice and hope to climb it at least one more time.

This day: I have been working all day on two online courses, collaborating on a group test and writing responses to discussion forums. It was pouring rain all morning and most of the afternoon; however, I did find a break in the rain, so I went outside walking along road beside the slough looking at Mt. Cheam between the rain showers and the sunshine for about half an hour. Then, the rains returned.

This course: As a student, I want to bring my experience in what it is like to be in a full-term online course, and secondly, as a teacher, I want to bring my observations of the design for community building in these courses. My goal is to develop an ongoing activity that can be used to build and maintain community with the teacher and other students throughout the course and not just at the beginning.- to bring some of the ideal FLO world into the real online world. 

Situate yourself in this world:

• Communities that 'claim' me: the town of Hope, BC, Nova Scotia (lived there for many years), public postsecondary, 
• One decision leading to me being here today: long ago I decided to explore the subject of 'how distance education is different in rural communities'. I've been fascinated by the concept of 'community' ever since.
• A place I feel connected to, and why: long ago, when I drove alone across Canada for the first time, I felt strangely connected to Sault Ste. Marie. If you've ever been there, you might wonder why the attraction. I certainly couldn't explain it at the time. I discovered years later that some of my relatives (aboriginal people) traded furs out of that region for many years.

Situate yourself in this day:

• What's present in the background? Gorgeous blue sky. Almost no wind at all (unusual). Lots of golden leaves on the maples & a faint hint of burning leaves in the air. Steller's jays arguing over the bird feeder in the back. 
  

Situate yourself if this course:

• What do I bring that you want to share, and what am I hoping to learn? I want to share ideas about community, how it works (or doesn't) in online situations, how it contributes to a learning experience, how one might evaluate it.