Class Presence
What I do is log on at least twice a day, in the early morning hours and late evenings to ensure that I contact and or respond to postings on the class threads tiemly within the same day. It can be a challoenge in light of the number of students in the classes that can range from 25 to 35, but it seems to help with retention in my opinion.
Hi Robin,
That sounds like a great strategy. I've found that some platforms facilitate active discussions much better than others, but I would like to try to do what I can to promote the "real" classroom perception. I make a point to reply to every student biography with not only a welcoming response, but with an offering of information regarding a topic they are worried about in the course or just personal details such as my experience with their hometown.
Eugenia
Robin ,
Very good. Addressing each individual can have a significant impact on student morale. Nice going.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Instructor activity on the discussion boards is very important. Throughout the session, I try to respond to every student at least once on the discussion board. Often this helps to get a discussion going that is on topic with the assignment, but provides a different perspective. In the student course evaluations, this type of interaction is mentioned often in helping the student feel like they are in a "real" classroom.
Marshall,
The higher frequency of instructor participation is often linked to a better student online learning experience. This can translate into higher retention.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
