Instructor readiness
Of all the issues one should consider in any online course is instructor readiness. To this end, an instructor needs to make sure that they are technically proficient, have good management and organizational skills and above all patience and the ability to communicate.
Joseph,
I would say the other part of that is knowing where to get help for yourself AND your students. You can't be the expert on everything, but it is our responsibility to know where to find the answers and help.
Herbert Brown III
I totally agree Jeanean. Far too often online instructors do not understand how the online course is designed or developed and furthermore how students can get assistance when features within the course are not working properly. To that end, an instructor does not have to be an IT expert, but they should have a basic understanding of the CMS.
Lance,
I would agree that the more you are prepared and organized at the beginning of the course, the smoother it will likely run. Additionally the clearer you make your course expectations at the beginning of the course, the smoother it will run as well. There is a lot of pre-planning and preparation that needs to go in to a good online course.
Herbert Brown III
The readiness of a online instructor is crutial as once the course begins its very difficult to go back and make revisions on of dates or content that will not effect the full course. Insuring that all dates and content, quizes and discussion questions should be posted prior to class course allowing the students to have structure in which they will work.
Jeanean,
Thanks for sharing this Jeanean. You are right that the preparation and readiness of the instructor does have a big impact on the online course. Proper readiness and preparation will help to establish the "presence" of the instructor in the course.
Herbert Brown III
