I think it is very important for the instructor to set the mood for the class. Let the students know they are supported and create a good online learning environment.
I agree Kristin. What are some of the expectations you would include for faculty and students? Tina
Tina, I lay out my expectations in our first chat session. I explain the course policies and procedures, how I enforce the rules and why these rules are important.
This would include a discussion of late work, plagiarism, and so on.
When students know upfront what the expectations are they tend to abide by the policies and are afforded the opportunity to ask questions too, in real time.
Those expectation statements should include what can be expected of the faculty member as well as what is expected of the student. Not everything is the responsibility of the faculty member, but clearly drawing those lines at the beginning of the course makes the rest of the class go more smoothly.
Kristin
Hi Angela, we have a 24 hour turn around time. It is difficult for learners to carve out time to engage in course activities, so we try to respond as quickly as possible, so they can get their questions answered. Tina
I think 24 - 48 hours is good turn around time. Twenty-four is ideal otherwise students get paranoid and worry but 48 is sometimes needed for some issues.
Great suggestions. That is a good point and something I will incorporate. I like students to know what to expect and also I like to know what they expect from me.
Hi Rebecca, we use a standard template at our institution too, which has evolved over time based on misunderstandings that have been reported by faculty. Tina
Hi Tina, I am currently an online instructor for a university in Colorado. They have a specific "Course Expectations" letter template for each class I teach, which makes it reasonable universal for the students who take a series of courses at the university. Instructors are permitted to make some additions to the letter; however, late policy are requested to be kept with certain guidelines (so that students are not blindsided by one particularly stringent instructor (say, they don't accept any late papers--This would be objected to by their faculty advisor.) We have: coursework requirements: APA, font style and formatting; academic honesty stipulations; academic research guidelines; Discussion Board guidelines; research guidelines (no Wikileak or Wicopedia); and protocols for appealing grades. I appreciate the fact that this is a universal statement among all faculty and students.
Hi Angela, I think you have a good list of items that need to be included in your faculty expectation statement. I also recommend that you describe your teaching style and how you will engage with learners, so they understand what they can expect from you in terms of interactions in activities. Tina
Hi Kelly, these are excellent things to include in your faculty expectation. Also consider other expectations that learners may have that may be inaccurate and make sure that you state them specifically. For instance, learners may have expectations for how often you will engage in online discussions, how fast assignments will be returned, how often they have to participate in the course, how fast you will respond to emails, etc. If unmet, they can become dissatisfied, so it's important to state at the beginning of the course what they can expect. Tina
I am new to the online teaching arena, however, some of my on campus students that are also taking on line classes, have stated that faculty expectation should include:
1.) System requirements for the class (XP, MS7, Office 2010...)
2.) Anticipated time of reply from a students query.
3.) Any ancillary books that maybe required, before the end of the term.
4.) Instructor profile and knowledge of material being taught.
5.) Clear precise deadlines with timezones accounted for as well as any extensions in case system shutdown.
As I embark into my first cyber class, I hope to apply the information from those that have taught as well as taken online classes before me.
My goals include making the students feel welcome, that I am there as a sounding board, that student interaction will make their experience more meaningful, and they are expected to keep in touch. I remind them that I am not a mind reader and will only know if they are struggling if they tell me. I let them know that I want to set them up to succeed but they are responsible to complete the work.
I find that clear policies help the learner understand the expectations and also give a clear picture of how to be successful as well. Good policies on late work, plagiarism, office hours, communication, assessment due dates, grading rubrics are all very helpful. Also, I like to post a welcome letter to introduce myself, talk about my background, and how online learning can be fun but yet demanding.
Hello Tina,
Thank you for the tip. I don't discuss my teaching style in the expectations document. However, I do make myself available to them.
Hi Michael, do you discuss your teaching style in your faculty expectation. I have found that students come into the online environment with expectations regarding the level of interaction they will have with the instructor, so it's important to make sure they understand how you will engage with learners. Tina
I think the student expectations document is a very important element for online courses. It should include basic information such as grading policies, where and how students submit assignments,assignment deadlines, extensions policies, plagiarism policies and so on. The document can be quite long, so I go over those elements in the first chat as well. Students seem to feel more comfortable with the course material when the rules are clear and easily accessed.
Hi Martha, I also recommend that you include information about submitting late assignments or time away from the classroom and making up assignments. I also recommend that you include information about how you will participate in the course and how often you will post grades. Tina
Important elements of a faculty expectations statement can vary from course to course. But the key component of such a statement would be to provide an explanation for the students overall concerns. Students will show different concerns as the attitude and experience with on line courses will certainly vary from student to student. The statement should cover the broad areas of the course, ie. assignments, when they are due, expected responses etc. Other concerns should be addressed on a micro, or student to student basis as general concerns will vary from student to student. With experience one will be able to identify prevalent concerns/questions and be able to include those in future statements.
Hi Shellie, I have found the same issue in the online courses I teach. I actually changed my faculty expectations to inform learners about their responsibility to review my feedback in discussions and assignments to improve performance throughout the quarter. I also set an expectation about asking questions if a learner does not understand something. Tina
