Justin: No question about it, the interaction is there but boy is it different and not as direct.
Ed: I like your idea of submitting/embedding some youtube into the online class room. That does or should give the student the feeling of a face to face meeting with the teacher, but I am more concerned with the response of the student. As I stated earlier - the student has more time to gather his or her thoughts before a response is given.
Understanding the fact that students are going to view your comments when he or she has the time, so be careful how and when you submit the comments or responses to the student. He or she is going to have a lot of time to read and think about what is stated in the comment. Makes a big difference than when the student has a response in a brick and mortar environment.
Madhuchanda,
Yes, that is more likely.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Leigh,
I have heard this described as being like "trying to push a wet string across the table."
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Keisha,
Yes, the nonverbal communication takes a big hit.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Kelly,
Well stated. Keep up the good work.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
maryln,
Yes, it is important for the success of many students to know the instructor is engaged. Many instructors engage promarily through email (including, individual comments to students about the discussion board) and assignment feedback. Then the instructor is more of 'on the side' in the discussion board. I have seen this style work, as well. But the instructor participation needs to be there in either case.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
maryln,
Many institutions have implemented a short essay requirement.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Stephanie,
I just spoke with a student on the phone who has (for 4 weeks) been instisting she is following the instructions "exactly" and that her papers are "exactly" like the sample I provided. It took 5 minutes on the phone to allay 4 weeks of frustration for her (and me). I don't know why she was so adverse to speaking with me. It took multiple messages to get the call extablished. But she was pleased at the end of the call, a little sheepish, but pleased and grateful.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Don,
I remember the transition had challenges (in 1999), but I don't remember the specifics.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Robert,
That continues to be a huge issue with many students. I have even heard statements along the lines of "I don't have to go to college to get the degree, I'll just take classes online." The perception is changing, but not fast enough to allow all students the opportunity to understand the commitment/requirements before they get into it.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Thomas,
I know what you mean, sometimes I am writing one student and remeber facts about another student to which I allude and they label the absent-minded professor. ;-]
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
We don't get to 'see' the online student after the course is over.
This need not be the case on the ground campus. It is quite likely that you will run into the student from time to time in the department.
I once had a teacher in high school who insisted that he was a "learning facilitator". In some ways, I find myself in this position when teaching online. The platform is specifically aimed at students who, to some degree, can "teach themselves" through engaging with the course materials (textbook, videos, lectures, discussions, etc.).
I find I have the most difficulty in reaching the student who really does not have the basic skills necessary to teach themselves much of any new subject. I've had students insist that they are not doing well in the course because they "just don't know anything about *course topic*". It drives me mad, of course, since the point of any course is to learn about said topic, and students aren't expected to "know" about it, before hand.
I find my biggest challenge comes in accepting the level of student engagement that I come across, and prodding them (on a never-ending basis) to do more, strive more, and achieve more. This is difficult to do because I firmly believe that they need to be their own motivators and monitors; they should take more responsibility for themselves. It just doesn't always happen the way I "think" it should, though.
My biggest challenge will not being able to read body language as I tend to look at body language a lot of the times to fill in the spaces between the lines. So I will have to find a way to adjust to not having that extra information and to be able to listen and understand what the student is trying to communicate to me without having gestural cues.
This is an interesting question. In the traditional classroom setting, I do not believe that the role of the instructor is only to be a "sage on the stage." In the classroom, instructors should also serves a "guides" in helping students understand the course materials. When I transitioned from the classroom to online learning, it was not difficult to become a guide; however, it was difficult not having a full lecture environment. Through the years, I have learned more and more methods of delivering the course materials outside of lecture.
Instructor’s presence in the course is critical for the students to participate in the course. The instructor should be on the discussion a lot during the week so the students will get the perception that the instructor is engaged in classroom discussion. If the instructor is highly engaged in the classroom then the student will think the instructor is interested and engaged in the class.
I think that some students take an online course thinking it is going to be an easy “A†and that they won’t have to do that much work. It is a shock when they start the course and see what they have to actually do. There should be some kind of minimum requirement in grammar guidelines to determine if the students need to take a developmental English course.
We provide the students with information on how to correct issues in their assignments, through grading comments and emails. However, when you see them make the same mistakes over and over again, it is frustrating. You wonder if they read your messages. Without the face to face interaction, this is difficult. I am open to suggestions on this.
