Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Julie: The opinion on this Subject differs among Instructors. Some feel it takes more time; especially when it comes to constantly monitoring student's progress, providing timely feedback, participating in Asynchronous Discussion forums, and Chat sessions. Others feel that there is really no significant difference in effort. The highest level of effort they have to expend is when they teach the course for the first time. Satrohan

Discussion Comment

Learning online...

William On-the-ground courses should also have structural integrity. In an on-the-ground setting, students can also be referred to online supporting materials. I believe what makes the diffeence is that online students can devote more time to assimilate the course content. They have more time to reflect on the online lecture, discussion forums etc. Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Learning online...

Michelle: Students learning styles do have an influence on how successful they would be in an online learning environment versus a traditional classroom setting. It is my opinion that if the course meets the requirements of a quality online learning course, the instructor is capable of applying proper strategies to teach in an online environment, and the students possess the requisite knowledge and skills to successfully participate in online learning, ther should not be any significant difference in the learning gains between these two learning environments. Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Getting to know your students...

Michelle: I agree. Current technology supports different strategies an instructor can adopt to establish and maintain relationships with his or her students and this includes gaining an undertsanding of the students; for example, assessing their entry level skills. Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Can any course be taught online?

Michelle: Depending on the learning outcomes of medical courses, the theory based portion can be covered online; however, the hands-on portions are better handled in a lab environment---not one simulated in an online environment. The same philosophy applies to all courses, the learning outcomes of which are performance-based. Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Getting to know your students...

Joanne: TO answer your question about the outcomes approach, it depends what the objective of the course is. When I use the term learning outcomes, I refer to learning objectives. For example, the objective could be for the learner to use the software to solve problems in the workplace without the use of reference materials. The objective must have a capability verb that can be measured. In this case, you have another dimension-----"with the confidence" . You will have to find a measure that enables you to conclude that the student exhibits this criterion. I hope that the clarification I… >>>

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Getting to know your students...

Joanne: You have done an excellent job in capturing the trend technology has played in learning. I remember the days in which radio was introduced; slide presentations, narrated slide presentations, television, interactive videodisc; and the wonderful promise of the predominance of intelligent tutoring systems by the early nineties. I am not sure I comprehend your first question. In regards to the second question, in my opinion, one cannot separate the desired learning outcomes from instructional and delivery strategies. I have not had any experience with any institution in which the desired learning outcomes are the last on the list. They… >>>

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Managing students...

Patricia: I share your opinion that it takes much more effort to teach in an online environment than in a traditional classroom setting. I also agree with you in regards of the outcomes of granting extensions. we should consider that in a traditional classroom setting, there are likely to be the same deadlines. I would grantr extensions only under extenuating circumstances. Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Learning online...

Troy: You have mentioned several factors that can influence successful online learning. All things being equal, I also believe that students can learn as much or more in an online environment than in a traditional classroom setting. Here is a question for you. Let's assume that we hold all factors influencing learning constant in both learning environments-----online and on-the-ground. Do you believe students will remember more of what they learn in an on-the-ground setting, than in an online setting? Satrohan

Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Discussion Comment

Can any course be taught online?

Your points are well taken, Troy. When the content of a course is driven by objectives that are performance-based, the blended approach is more suitable. This is the kind of decision a learning institution has to make when they decide to offer those courses online at the national and international level. Satrohan