Many blended students do not like online courses and don't participa
I have had a number of blended students who resent having to take a course online. I have had several students tell me that they did not expect this and do not like the online environment. The students do not know how to engage in online instruction because the information was covered in an orientation that was not recent. The drop rate on these students is very high (in my experience) despite extensive efforts to reach the student.
Refresher courses are needed that have a very positive "cheerleader" approach. Students need to have motivation to recognize the benefits of working with the platform and technology; they need to know the value-add to their career goals.
To many students online courses feel like they are teaching themselves. At AIU the students are not required to listen to the Live Chat so the students do not know what they are missing in the way of fillers to the readings.
Without refresher courses the students will not like the online environment, will continue failing the courses or having their GPA destroyed due to the inability to master this learning platform. Without this refresher we are doing our students, our customers, a disservice.
I have found that easing the student into the blended format is helpful. Taking a traditional classroom envirionment and then "web-enhancing" by giving students access to the OLS and using bits and pieces as a group allows the students to become more comfortable and familiar with the platform. Then when they are put into a blended class they are not as intimidated.
Hi Sharon,
I have had similar experiences with blended students for the same reasons that you described. Some of my blended students said they were taking online classes only because they had to - for example they needed a credit or specific class to complete their program or had a work schedule that made ground classes difficult.
It would be nice if students had a referesher class they could work through as a group. I think that knowing other blended students and knowing they aren't the only ones that need a review would help. Plus, it would be good practice for the actual class. It might also be nice to have a quick review video in the classes just in case they need it there.
There are probably lots of other ways to help students with this but I think it is an important issue to address!
-Sarah
Rhonda,
Nice work. Yes, the pervasive use of webcams and cell phone videos has made Youtube videos very easy to accomplish. This is a great platform for class participation. Newer LMSs are incorporating this capability as part of the platform, so you and your students don't need to create external links.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
This is a good point. I have been teaching online for quite some time now and have implemented several active learning strategies in my online courses. There are several things you can do to increase interaction. One example is have students create a video for their discussion posts verus a written discussion.
I have noticed that students' do not feel online courses are interactive enough. It does vary, depending on students' maturity level, as well as the effort they put into the class.
However, I know some instructors seem to give scripted feedback to many discussion forums, as well as to assignments. It can be easily detected by the students, and then they do have the right to feel they are teaching themselves.
However, I know that with individualized feedback to assignments, as well as genuine interest in the students' forum discussions responses, the level of students' engagement increases.
Yes, it is hard to reach everyone teaching online, but it is possible to reach quite a few.
Sharon,
Thank you for sharing your experience and insight.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
