Student interaction
I am stunned by the number of students whom have reported that their instructors are not in contact with them due to the fact that they are in a virtual environment. I believe that instructors should go above and beyond because of the online environment.
Kendrick,
You are so right!!!!! It also includes workload balance. You as an instructor have to provide the balance and along with expectations with student engagement. You make a great oint about too much engagement can be a barrier just as not enough engagement.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Wilkinson,
Balance is key. And not just in education, but in all things. However, as it relates to learning, everyone has different learning styles and preferences. I think that it is important to understand this and develop the necessary skills that will help both the instructor and the student make the most of the learning environment. Engaging too much or not enough only creates a barrier in communication and learning.
Socorro,
No, it is easy to either be too engaged or not engaged enough. The key is balance for you and the student.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
This is a surprise. I know for fact that instuctors in virtual environment are very interactive with their students, not only as a required protocol but with the very nature of their daily required activities.
Ms. Dimayuga
I agree Shane..on the other hand, my students make fun of how they ignore me when I call now, ha!
Billie,
You are right! We have a institution in our area that is now having to pay back millions of dollars because of the lack of student interaction.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I am a coordinator for my school in the online devision. I hire my instructors and have a very through discussion about what they must do in the classroom each week and each day. We have weekly announcements that must be posted on Monday of each week because classes run from Monday through Sunday. Every instructor is to answer email at least once a day--Monday through Friday-- and one day on the weekend. No student should go over 24-hours during the week and 48-hours on the weekend without a response to an email. We also give students the program coordinator's contact information and the dean's contact information in case they are not receiving that direct contact from the instructor. Grading is to be completed by Tuesday evening for the previous week and grades posted. I have full access to the classes so that I can check a class whenever I feel the need. Instructors know the expectations. As I tell my students, this is not a correspondence course. Instructor and students need to interact from Day 1.
Angela,
It also keeps students going into the LMS so they have to access info. Good answer.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Deana,
AMEN! I agree with you wholeheartedly. learning principles don't change with environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I agree! Posting announcements and emailing students in a timely fashion helps to build communication and trust with your students. The more available you are as an instructor, the more likely they are to reach out to you with questions or concerns.
Shane/Class:
I often ask myself if these (same) instructors are active (or would be active) in a F2F environment.
Just like students, online education is not for everyone. Instructors can thrive in a F2F environment and fail in an online environment and vis-a-versa.
The same learning and teaching principles should be applied when hiring educators in all settings.
Perhaps having a clear understanding of an educators teaching style would benefit students.
Edward,
Actually what you say goes for f2f courses also. Communication is the key to learning no matter what the delivery method is!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I find that very surprising as well, however, that is probably the same type of instructor who, in a ground based class, simply reads to his/her students directly from the book and has no personal interaction with the students.
I would consider frequent communications essential in an online environment since there is no verbal, or even non-verbal, communication as in a ground course.
shane,
It is a shocker, but it is true. I think some of it is no training as to how to management an online environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
