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Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Danny Shields
Danny Shields

Typing Skills

I continue to communicate with my students the importance of typing speed and accuracy. Should we integrate a typing program into the online content systems to encourage typing practice?
Danny Shields
Danny Shields

Knowing what to cover in the video

When the objective is inclusivity, how do you know what will be effective in a video to increase students participation?
Danny Shields
Danny Shields

Online readiness for the student

How can you determine student’s online readiness for successful completion of the course content? Is this determined from the effectiveness of how the course is set-up? Meaning, when does usability becomes a factor in online learning before you deploy the course?
Timothy Peterson
Timothy Peterson

What are your best techniques to bring quiet students into discussion?

What are your best techniques to bring quiet students into discussion?
Timothy Peterson
Timothy Peterson

Asynchronous Learning Environments and Generation Gaps

Has there any relevant information and studies on differences between younger students and older (Returning to school/retraining) students when it comes to working with Asynchronous Learning Environments?
Timothy Peterson
Timothy Peterson

Best practices for group moderation

Are there known best practices for group moderation?
Timothy Peterson
Timothy Peterson

Tips for Instructors to become most fluent in the CMS

Tips for Instructors to become most fluent in the CMS
daniel reyes
daniel reyes

Dog Training

Did the title grab you? I think about dog training when I evaluate a course. What are the learning outcomes? How often do I discuss or test the outcomes? If the answer is no or not enough, how are the students supposed to get better? Why would I be critical of outcomes when we did not cover that topic enough for testing? Does your dog learn to shake on the first or second try?
daniel reyes
daniel reyes

Student Feedback

How student feedback is gathered and instructor involvement is critical. I work at two different organizations with different approaches to student feedback. I ask each student what they would change with the class and/or my approach to the class. With those critiques, I had made several adjustments to my teaching style and/or delivery systems. With the other assessment, the students are asked more about the school and an instructor evaluation. If I am "hard" on students, I usually get a lower score... Make it about the outcome not the person....
daniel reyes
daniel reyes

Using the Rubric as a Checklist

I constantly reinforce the idea of using the rubric as a checklist before they hand in their homework/project. If the student is able to checklist each of their answers with the appropriate question without double dipping...then they are ok. I have noticed an increase in points total by using this method. Too many times, students skip questions or use a paragraph to answer 2 questions which never really happens. Checklist folks!
daniel reyes
daniel reyes

Get Up to Speed

Tech is moving at a vigorous pace...how often do you call people? Compared to text or Facebook? Do you tweet?As far as teaching online, do you Youtube? Create content? Relying on the old paradigms is not very progressive. We teach online, shouldn't we fully use the tech? I hear instructors say, "Well, I called..." or "I sent an email..." can you say retention! Old paradigms...get typical results. Online students need more....brick and mortar students need as well but you can see and touch them. How do you do this online? GET CONNECTED! Comments?
daniel reyes
daniel reyes

Using YouTube

I am using YouTube more in my classes as a way to reach students. I give short "how-tos" for Weekly Topics. They can view them privately on their terms. The students seem to be reacting to me better in class, I get more people on the live chats. They are also more willing to reach out when they are having issues. In creating a shell or online course, the content needs to be standardized...I agree, but humanity plays an important role in my opinion. As an online student myself, at times, I feel very alone...how does course creation take this into consideration?
Tonia Seay-Josephina
Tonia Seay-Josephina

Effective Classroom Scaffolds

Ensuring instructor presence is vital in ensuring an effective online classroom environment. Students have the tendency to think that Instructors are too BUSY to ask questions or get clarification on subject material, however we can change this by frequent announcement posts, indicating to students that we are available with our posted office hours or live classroom sessions hours. Along with various ways to reach us, by phone/email or even text messages.
Jeanean Eldridge
Jeanean Eldridge

Managing Online Course Environment

In order to effectively manage my online courses I am employ the following strategies: 1)Check administrative emails and respond. 2)Check student emails and respond. 3)Ensure that all grading has been done. 4)Post all announcements and supplemental grading. Doing all of this daily helps me to stay abreast of my responsibilities.
Jeanean Eldridge
Jeanean Eldridge

Asynchronous Learning Environments

While I understand the theory behind coordinating synchronous and asynchronous learning environments I must confess I am not completely a fan. As I do not want to place the added stress of participating the synchronous environment on the student when part of the selling point is the independence and flexibility of the learning environment.
Jeanean Eldridge
Jeanean Eldridge

Instructor Participation

It must be noted that while the online environment allows both the student and the instructor flexibility in terms of their respective deliverables; it is of tantamount importance that the instructor is seen as actively engaged, and interested in the course as a whole and in each individual student.
Jeanean Eldridge
Jeanean Eldridge

Instructor readiness

Of all the issues one should consider in any online course is instructor readiness. To this end, an instructor needs to make sure that they are technically proficient, have good management and organizational skills and above all patience and the ability to communicate.
NICOLE COBB
NICOLE COBB

Technology tools in the course room

When using technology tools in the course, there are several things to consider. First and most importantly would be to consider the audience/student. You shouldn't expect a group of students who are not familiar with advanced technology to be able to use advanced technology tools. Secondly, we should discern which tools are most appropriate for the objective we are trying to achieve. We would not expect a student to use power point in a class that only uses essay writing. Lastly, it is important to determine the ease of access to these tools for all involved.
NICOLE COBB
NICOLE COBB

Feedback for learning

When giving assignment feedback, I first praise the student for something she did right/well. Then, I direct her to where she went wrong. In addition, I provide guidance on where she can find resources within the course room to help her learn from her mistakes.
NICOLE COBB
NICOLE COBB

Communication is key

The one thing that I constantly try to drive home with my students is that they should never be afraid to reach out to me with questions. I have found that in the online environment, students are far less likely to ask questions. They would rather just take the chance and submit an assignment or test even though they did not fully understand the material. My welcome video lets them know that I am here for them, I was an online student myself at one time, and that communication is key.