Situating Ourselves

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.