I started this course yesterday, all excited to learn more about online learning

Now in day 2 the excitement is still there but I have more questions now and make mental notes of things to remember. One of which is the learning model levels. Level 2 the conversing level is a level that I would have seen as "a waste of time" and would not have thought to include it in my module. But doing the week 0 activities I actually had fun yesterday and feel more at ease on this platform. Its a feeling of familiarity. I think students would not see conversing (getting to know each other) as a waste of time but that it would deepen their learning experience. 

Mental note made

Mariska, thank you very much for sharing your ideas regarding the course model and your insight. I often wonder whether level one and two are really necessary because my personality and personal approach is one of jumping in and getting things done. However, seeing the value of easing students into the course and the online environment and assisting them to get to know one another have proved to be so valuable that I will never considering skipping these steps in an online - or even a face to face-class situation. Keep on blogging and pinning down your reflections.

Hallo Mariska,
I am so glad to see you are reflecting on your learning here. Throughout the course we will be encouraging the use of the blogs tool for this very purpose. It serves as a journal and could even help your students share their different methods of study with their fellows.
I am also happy to see that level two of the course model showed you the value of building connections in an online platform. This is usually very easily done in a F2F environment and almost seen as something done unconsciously. In an online environment is takes some more effort (especially from the facilitator to encourage participation) But the value it adds to trust and creating a welcoming environment for your participants has a great payoff.
Hoping to see you share more jewels and notes as you go along on your Online journey ;-)

Morning Mariska
I also had doubts about level two, but in hindsight can now see how it became the foundation for an online learning community.