Guest Facilitator Satrohan Mangal

Rebecca: You have captured the essence of the limitations of online learning as they pertain to "demonstrate by performing" skills. They expereince of actually performing tasks driven by psychomotor skills is key to demonstrating ones ability to actually performing those tasks; not merely observing others perfroming them.

Janet: I share your opinion that it is easier to manage students in a face-to-face setting. This question addresses management of student behavior; not means of establishing contact with students and observing student behaviors. You may want to re-visit the question and the course materials; then elaborate on your answer. Satrohan

Janet: Good design,opportunities to participate in the learning activies, self discipline, effective time-management are are contributory factors to being a successsful onliner learner. These traits are also essential for being a successful learner in a traditional classroom setting. Here is a question for you. Assume that we keep all conditions equal for both th eonline environment and the traditional classroom setting, do you believe students can learn as much, or more in an online environment versus a traditional classroom setting? Satrohan

Janet: Your answer to this question does not explore the depth of the Question. An Instructor's availability, and turnaround time for feedback are both important elements for successful online learning; however, providing the kinds of information you mentioned is inadequate to support your understanding of your students. Here's a situation to consider. I am playing the role of one of your students. You have given me you contact information and advised me that I can contact you anytime. If I choose not to contact you, how will you learn about my fears, strengths, weaknesses etc?

Janet: Motivation, commitment, well designed courses etc are all contributing factors to successful online learning. I agree with you to the extent that theory-based courses can be effectively taught online; however,courses,the outcomes of which are perfromance-based cannot be completely taught successfully in an online environment. Reflect on how effective an online course on certain culinary arts can be; and how effectively we can evaluate students' performance on such skills in an online environment. Satrohan

Alanna: I am also of the opinion that delivering instruction online is more demanding. In addition to all the factors contributing to face-to-face being easier to conduct and manage, as an online Instructor, one has to tailor one's availability to match the students' requirements. Satrohan

Alanna: I share your opinion, by experience, that it takes more time to manage an online learning environment. Please elaborate on your position by sharing with us some of the challenges you believe Faculty and Administration face. Satrohan

Alanna: I agree with you that there are well-established learning technologies; and more are emerging. Do you think that students can afford to add to their learning systems, advanced learning technologies a learning institution has chosen to deliver instruction? And if they can, would this be a feasible approach to adopt when members of the student population are known to reside in geographic locations not serviced by High Speed Internet transmissions? Satrohan

Alanna: What is the duration of a typical course you teach in an online environment? Do you usually have adequate time to know all of your students before the course ends? Satrohan

Anthony: Your first and last sentence has captured the essence of the topic under consideration. Satrohan