haiku LMS

Joanna Lynn Ray, has a Masters in Educational Technology and an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. 

As the Coordinator for Online Universities at the IUPUI School of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana, Joanna works with local school districts to provide teachers with graduate and professional development courses. 

We asked her to talk about her experience with teaching and technology, and how haiku LMS has affected her teaching.

I received my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, but I always had a passion for technology.  Soon after I graduated from IU and got my first teaching job, I made a powerful decision to pursue a  Master’s Degree in Educational Technology at IUPUI. I started out in traditional face-to-face courses, but eventually found myself taking all distance learning courses. I loved them!

I worked full time and was pregnant with my son, so the flexibility and convenience distance learning provided was truly a blessing.  I started out teaching an online course for IUPUI. It was the perfect opportunity for me to stay home with my son, but apply the skills I had learned in my Master’s Program.

Fast forward 3 years, I’m now the Coordinator for Online Universities,  and have the opportunity to work with school districts throughout the Indianapolis area.  I work with schools to transfer existing courses, develop new courses, and facilitate the development of onsite instructors for the online courses. 

I first learned about haiku LMS from one of our partner school districts, and was impressed from the moment I logged in! I’ve worked in several online learning environments, but haiku LMS makes it so easy to get instructors up and running.  I was impressed with the user-friendly format and overall visual appeal. I immediately called up the creator of haiku LMS to sing my praises.

Please talk about IUPUI and its goals.  How does it dovetail with your personal mission?

Our online Master’s program at IUPUI in Curriculum and Instruction with a Focus on Technology supports school districts who wish to offer graduate credit courses and professional development modules within their own online environment.  We have developed an adjunct instructor cadre of master’s level teachers who develop courses and teach within an online environment. 

One of our local school districts already uses haiku LMS.  Over 600 of their 1,000 teachers use it regularly to interact with students and parents and more teachers are using it every day.  They post assignments and homework help, use it for giving online exams and to collect and grade homework, etc.  So when their Professional Development staff and I began offering online courses through IUPUI, we knew it would be a successful program. 

Our mission is to provide graduate credit and license renewal opportunities to teachers within the context of their own learning environment.  Teachers already have so much on their plates, so we have the motto “Let us come to you.” We don’t want the technology to stand in the way of teachers getting the experience and opportunities they deserve. haiku LMS has made this possible.

How does technology as a teaching tool impact you, the professor, today?  How does it impact the learner?

Almost all of my interaction with students is conducted in an online setting.  I couldn't do my job without technology.  Students enjoy the flexibility and convenience that technology offers.  I can't imagine life without it.

What are the greatest limitations of teaching with technology? What are your greatest concerns?

I would have to say the greatest limitation that I’ve witnessed with my students and teachers is fear of using technology. It can feel overwhelming, and embracing a new technology takes time. Unfortunately, many individuals just don’t have the time in their busy lives to master a new technology application.  That's what I really love about haiku LMS.  Teachers can do pretty much anything quickly and efficiently because using the software is so intuitive.  If you want to put a text box here, you simply drag it over. To add text, you just click and type. It’s so simple. Technology has come a long way over the years, and it sure has made my job easier!

What are the most important qualities to be a successful teacher on-line?

Teaching online is quite different from teaching in a traditional setting, but I feel it can be just as personal if an instructor creates a sense of “community” within the online setting. To me, it’s important for students in an online setting to know you are “present” even though you are not together face-to-face. Online teachers need to check in frequently, post announcements, communicate, and post feedback to students regularly. In addition, the “voice” of an online instructor is equally important in building the community. It’s paramount that online instructors are organized, consistent, and detailed in their course content to provide a positive learning experience for online learners.

What would you say to other educators who are searching for an LMS about your own decision to use haiku LMS?

I was introduced to haiku LMS by the Professional Development Coordinator at one of the local public school systems.  In situations I’ve observed, the teachers aren’t the decision-makers in purchasing technology used for their classrooms.  If they were, I can't imagine them NOT choosing haiku LMS after comparing its usability with the alternatives.