Hi Tawanda, I think that is a great idea. Generally, my faculty do that when they are grading because they have to be at the computer anyway and they can stop and interact with learners if they have questions. Tina
Hi Deborah, I think there have been some great research to demonstrate that online is as good as classroom teaching. The biggest challenge for me is being available 24/7. Tina
I feel my biggest challenge in transitioning to guide on the side as a newer instructor is accepting that on-line teaching can be as good as in the class room. One of the pro's is that ou can reply to question's from a student an have a little more time to think on your answer befor reply.
I like the idea of chat rooms but hour system does not allow for it. However, I do have online "office hours" and the students can IM me with questions. I usually schedule it for about 1 to 2 hours. I just sit at the computer and what for students to send me messages. I respond immediately and we just go back and forward.
Hi Srabasti, it is really important to be proactive and reach out to learners because many times they won't reach out to you when they begin to struggle. Tina
Though this will be my first time, but I can already feel that my main problem will be motivating and inspiring students (which can easily be done through face-to-face interaction in traditional classrooms). And, once I see that students are not feeling motivated, I will take that personally and that will start affecting my teaching. Thanks - Srabasti
Hi Iris, yes, we work on social presence, cognitive presence, and instructor presence. One of the things we have been doing is using a casual discussion area called the "psychology cafe" where early on in the course faculty try to engage learners in low stakes [non graded] discussions to try to build relationships with learners. We are hoping that this will impact learners who are struggling and end up dis-engaging fromo the course. Because they have developed a relationship with the instructor, we are hoping they will be more likely to reach out when they need help. Tina
Hi,
Instructor presense is vital to the electronic community of learners. Social presense is so important because a learner may feel they are not even in a classroom for learning. The interactions are difficult if they feel like it a computer screen that they are talking too. We as educators must be there..we should give our picture that we are real, we can and should be involved in the learning process...
I miss seeing students' reactions. Relying on them to type what they "get" or "don't get" can be very challenging. Many students won't say anything until they are very far behind. It really does make encouraging a student through the learning process difficult at times.
Hi Mark, I am very interested in exploratory learning. How to you align that to the online environment? Tina
I have much experience in exploratory learning in my role as chef instructor. My students are presented with all the tools and information necessary along with demonstrations which guide their movements in order to accomoplish a task. I do not see much difficulty in realigning to an online type of structure.
Hi Esther,great observations about the "guide on the side". This role moves the learner to be more actively engaged in meaning making! Tina
The biggest challenge would consist of not being the final authority, thus providing information in its final form.
A guide provides support and shaping to move the student in the right direction without discovering the information for the student. The student must learn to construct his or her learning experiences.
The instructor can model the learning experience, but must not do all the work in giving the student the information in its final form.
Hi Aisling, there are so many different types of learning styles. Some relate to social styles and whether students like to work independently or in groups as well as cognitive learning styles which relate to how the think. Including activities to meet the needs for different types of social styles as well as cognitive styles can support individual learners and also help them develop new styles of learning. Tina
Hi Jenni, yes, I think it does help but we have been using what we call a psychology lounge to help develop engagement in low stakes (no grade associated with engagement) discussions. We feel that getting learners engaged in off-topic discussions help them feel more comfortable, which can improve presence and increase overall participation. Tina
One of the biggest challenges to becoming the guide on the side would be making sure that all learning styles are catered for in the online classroom so that all students are engaged and learning at their highest ability.
I have tried to cater for all learning styles like using video camera in the live chats and this has really increased the attendances as students say it feels like they are in the classroom. I have also done 12 podcasts to tie in with the courses I teach and this has also been a great success. In the Discussion board forums I embed Videos of topics that we are covering that week as well as documentaries and other cool videos and we have a great discussion on this. I would love to know even more ways to help keep all students of different learning styles engaged and motivated.
It stated in the course that the more credentials that the instructor posts and the more the students have a chance to post bios makes them feel more engaged. Is that your experience?
Hi Cindy, we are trying to do more synchronous meetings to help learners with the course activities and we are trying to determine activities to keep everyone actively involved during the meetings. Tina
I ask the students to email me questions, situations and any information which they want to discuss, this way it assist them with the subject material. We sometimes discuss several different items for the weeks study, I have talked the entire hour, and I have to keep asking, Are you there, They laugh, they are listening, writing etc... And I have to option to record the sessions and post for those who cannot join us. It really is a great tool to use and I have one class who partipate and we use the hand raise in the chat area to keep control.
Hi Angela, I agree, it moves the role of the instructor to one of a coach and facilitator of learning, which is much more individualized. Tina
