Should Online Chat be Mandatory for Students to Attend?
Online learning should be consistent with chat rooms. Chat rooms allow students to actively engage with their classmates as well as the instructor. I believe online chat should be mandatory for students to attend. This would allow students to understand weekly and upcoming assignments and post questions regarding the assignment.
Julie,
We as instructors lead busy lives as well and there are times we choose to grade at night instead of in the afternoon. We can relate to the student.
Shelly Crider
I agree. Forums, that are asynchronous, let the students log on when they are online (whatever time that may be) and still interact with the other students. A lot of the on-line students are on-line students because of their schedules and hours and may not be available to chat live at any scheduled time.
I definitely agree. If it is not required, most students would not attend.
Ed,
It helps when the facilitator is active in the discussion.
Shelly Crider
Students should make a minimum of three postings. At least one “primary post†should be made, along with two “responsive postings†about the other posts in a thread, either to what other students have written or to what the instructor has written -- or just to express an opinion. This facilitates the interactive learning process. When a student reads and comments on the materials, it induces interactive learning.
Christopher,
Do you believe a good, involved discussion board can prove to be positive?
Shelly Crider
I think that online chats not work to many people are taking school online as it work with the schudule. I have had a hard time just trying to get feed back on group prodject when i have team mate that work total differnt hours and days then me. I had a teacher that wanted everyone to attend a chat. I was teaching my class at that time. And was never going to make it to the chats. i wrote the teach and explain and she said" well i would like to have you there at least once" wow i said to the teacher. as we both worked for the same company i dont think that they will let me take a break from my teaching to be involed in there teaching. So lets leave pot casts and go on with dead lines and let everyone keep on work on both jobs and education.
I would LOVE for chats to be mandatory, but I don't see how that would work. I have students literally all over the world, who work nights, or who work multiple jobs, who are care givers for kids or parents or spouses. Requiring them to attend chats is setting them up for failure, because some of them simply would not be able to.
I do agree that students who attend chats do better on assignments. I can tell when grading who was in chat (or listened to the archive) and who did not. While we can encourage students to attend chat, I don't think there is any effective way to regulate it.
Kevin,
Asynconized chats are good to have as well. Many students will have the same questions, but may not ask and this is a way to help them understand concepts.
Shelly Crider
Agreed. This was a contention I had during my online masters program since it had been billed as "anytime, anyplace" as you said.
I do recognize how useful these chats can be, and that asynchronous forums (such as this one) are not the same, but only I need to be online to write this at the time I submit it.
Matthew,
Very good! We do, indeed, need to teach to every student.
Shelly Crider
One main reason students attend online classes is for the asynchronous method of delivery. This is no different than when many of us attended large university lectures. No one took attendance and if we understood the labs, we could get in and out. I feel that students who are committed and study will do fine and do not need to be tied to a time and place. Students who do need extra help have the ability to jump online and get questions answered. It is like open tutoring. There is a value in the interaction, I agree. BUT... we also need to cater to all, not just those who may need extra assistance. Sometimes we over teach for those 2 or 3 in the class that need it without thinking of the others who are doing fine and learning without needed the extra help.
Charlotte, I disagree that chats should be mandatory because one of the main reasons working adults take online classes is to learn "anytime, anyplace". With so many time zones I find it hard to find a time that works for my schedule and all my students' schedules.
I like the idea of giving an assignment that is based on what was covered during a chat. Students can listen to an archived chat and interact with the material.
I think that minimal level of involvement should be mandatory. This will generate more involvement and improve retention and maybe even understanding of the material by the students.
Hi Nancy,
I agree that there should be more emphasis on the importance of the live chats. It would likely be difficult for the students at the online schools that I have taught for to commit to attending a live chat because of the various time zones. Many online schools also appeal to working adults who need the flexibility of an asynchronous course. However, it seems like it would completely reasonable for viewing the live chat to be a part of an assignment. For instance, if an assignment description was distributed during the live chat or if attendance were logged for course credit.
I wonder if live chats could become better integrated with discussion board interaction. For instance, if the live chat discussions could be logged and students who watch the archive later could also reply to content being discussed during the live chat. This way, students could gain from the instruction given during the live chat but also from the peer interaction as well.
Eugenia
Sloan,
There is a lot you can learn from a student, about a student, through online chats. Good point.
Shelly Crider
Charolette,
Actively chatting with classmates is good learning experience in itself. I like your thoughts!
Shelly Crider
Donald,
Good post! I must admit, I have been doing grading while on an online meeting before! If the chat is interesting, students will want to be involved. Nothing wrong with adding some critical thinking questions or case scenerios.
Shelly Crider
Chat sessions should be mandatory for online students. Chat sessions give online students the opportunity to directly interact with the instructor. Valuable insights can be obtained by the student.
