Every corner of the globe will one day be accessible by a single keystroke. The known world has become closer through the technological linkage with language less of a barrier. Technology has converted many activities of life. It is communication, socialization, entertainment, work, a friend and a teacher. As online education matures and learns from experience so too does classroom technology . Since a degree program is as much about learning from an academic standpoint as it is professional development, it makes sense to treat the encounter from the latter perspective (at least as far as team development). One faculty members names groups in the folloiwing manner: • EMEM (“Peace” in Efik-a language of Nigeria) • HETEP (“Peace” in the language of the Egyptian) • KAREENAN (“Peace” in Pangasinan-a language of the Philippines) • KUTHALA (“Peace” in Swati-the language of Swaziland) • MAGOGOSO (“Peace” in Roviana-a language of the Solomon Islands) • SATTA (“Peace” in Jamaican Creole) • SIPALA (“Peace” in the language of the Hopi Tribe of North America) Of course, the students do not know the word meaning until after group grades go out…but this is good KARMA!

Generation X & Y and Millenials are offsprings of a digital birth, a fast-paced childhood, and a solitary existence strive to utilize its skills and creativity to control their environments. The solitary nature of life is both increased and decreased with each computer link. The known world has become closer through the technological linkage. Students are drawn in by the sights and sounds of the AIU Online classroom. The layout is slick, professional and visually stimulating. Do your announcements, chats, and emails fit in? Online students are most likely heavy internet and computer users and their visual tastes have been molded by the activity. Creating announcements that look and sound like webpages is appealing to students.

Creativity is thought to be a foundation skill in effective leaders. Creative leaders are able to solve problems that have plagued an organization and successfully navigate the unexpected --“someone who can see old problems in new ways and new problems with fresh perspectives.” Creativity is derived from the socio-cultural environment, personality, and motivational variables. A creative instructor is one is does not focus on barriers, but can smooth the journey across stumbling blocks. Teaching creativity fosters engagement in the learning process. Students who are actively learning and are satisfied with the quality of contact in the classroom are more likely to remain. Focusing on creativity in student assignments has been found to elicit a higher level of concept application with regard to making connections between diverse information and new contexts.

Can online facilitation improve teaching skills in the traditional class room? I have made profound changes in my traditional class room due to my experience in online teaching and to taking these CEE courses.

Due to the lack of face-to-face interaction online (unless you have the ability to capture lessons and/or Skype, of course), students will read into the design of the typeface that you use. Interested in alienanting them all in one fell swoop? Use something visually heavy and angular such as "Impact." Want to be mistaken for passive and childish? Aim for "Kristen ITC" or any other font that looks like a child's handwriting. Trying to come across as a professional? Use traditional fonts -- "Times New Roman" and "Courier" are good choices. Finally, if you want to make it look as if everything you say is a suggestion and of little consequence, use "Comic Sans." If you don't believe me, consider the fact that companies spend billions on advertising each year to get our attention and our money. Or, if you're interested, I can point you to the disseration that sucked three years out of my life... ;)

Now that mobile technology is being utilized by students and faculty successfully, what strategy are you using to manage your time? Any tips?

I have taken multiple ground courses and reconfigured for online. I agree with the statement that an online syllabus/course must be more dynamic. In the classroom we have instant feedback to our teaching style, assignments, and participation. Online there is an inherent feedback delay, and shortcomings are often not discovered until the students submit their assignments. I try to keep students on track by providing "Hints Announcements" each week highlighting what the key concepts are for the week. I then reinforce this with the assignments (or vice versa if the assignments are static from the school). Rodney C.

I like to deliver feedback using the "sandwich method." Point out the good, talk about things that were not done so well, and ending with something positive. The first positive helps to engage the student by recognizing something done well (the student will want to read more to see what other compliments are in the feedback). Then the "teaching moments," followed by something else the student did well. The student then leaves with "I am doing all of xxxx well, if I just work on yyyy, I will be able to do well in this class." Rodney C.

When doing an online syllabus, I put in multiple "hints" in the syllabus to help students now what to focus on for the week. I feel this helps students to not feel overwhelmed when assigned to read multiple chapters, and at times review multiple sources. I supplement this by doing a "Hints Announcement" each week as a reminder what is most important to know for the concepts and assignemnts for the week. Rodney C.

Here is a message that I email to the students (and their advisors) in the second week if there has been no participation in the class. Subject: Welcome to the Class! Welcome to the class! We will have an exciting xxx weeks, and I just wanted to send this quick note to remind you that due to the accelerated nature of this course it can be challenging to catch up if you fall behind. I want to see you do well, so be sure to read the “Hints” announcements that I will each week, and of course if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me via email. I am sure that together we will figure out "what needs to be done" so that you excel in this class! School is an exciting time, and going to school is not easy, but the long-term benefits and the unbelievable sense of accomplishment when you are done will prove to you that you "did the right thing!"

All courses today uses discussion threads to engage students in course subject matter. As an instructor do you respond each thread posted by students or are you selective?

As an online instructor, I have found one of the most important methods of supporting students and helping to keep them engaged is to be warm and enthusiastic in my responses. When I post a friendly bio, respond thoughtfully to each student bio, and also engage students with warm and inviting responses, I find that students respond very well. Indeed, one of the more common comments I hear about my classes is how friendly and inviting the atmosphere is. Students feel supported and therefore comfortable to approach me when they have challenges.

Greetings! Students learn best when the instructor employs a variety of methods for engagement. If the instructor has the opportunity to employ both the synchronistic and asynchronistic formats, she will be able to reach a lot of students and appeal to their different styles of learning. I have had the opportunity to use both in my classroom, and I appreciate the chance to engage with students through powerpoints and live discussions. I also realize that this style of teaching does not appeal to the more independent student, and I enjoy actively engaging on the discussion board and posting additional materials for the student to enjoy.

I have taught online for almost seven years, and I believe the optimal online student-instructor ratio is 15-20 students. Less is great, too, of course. When we have a range of students, though, this allows for more stimulating dialogue and discussion. As well, the ratio is small enough to allow for enough one on one interaction.

Greetings! I think the most important component of supporting student retention is a strong instructor presence. This is maintained by adapting one's teaching methods to accommodate the diversity of adult learners in the classroom. This is quite important when considering the students have a range of learning styles and needs depending on their backgrounds and personal profiles.

Greetings, class! We are having a wonderful discussion on world religions. I want to share a link with you that provides additional articles and information on a variety of religious traditions. The site is: www.beliefnet.com. Enjoy!

I attempt to find tools for 21st century learning. Here is a resource Using e-Learning To Facilitate 21st Century Learning = http://www.slideshare.net/zaid/using-elearning-to-facilitate-21st-century-learning What are your thoughts about this?

I think there are so many more than four - for example, see The Ten Crucial Roles of the Online Instructor http://mindgatemedia.com/2011/03/14/the-ten-crucial-roles-of-the-online-instructor/

The problems I have seen with synchronous tools like webinars is that they tend to be teacher-centered. How can these tools be used to promote student-centric learning? For example, in my sessions, I give permission for students to use their webcams so they can discuss their thoughts and ideas with the rest of the group.

I attempt to continue to update the courses I develop to reflect current trends. For example, this past fall I developed and taught a course on Social Networked Learning - here is a blog post I wrote about it http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/educators-as-social-networked-learners/