Live Chats versus No Live Chats
I've taught in several online learning environments to include courses that require weekly live chats and those that do not. Although live chats are not included in grading rubrics, I have found that students who participate in live chats typically experience a much more enriching learning experience. Live chats also provide an opportunity for the instructor and student to develop rapport, once again providing the student with a more enriching experience.
Jill ,
You would be amazed at the depth and level of discussion that you can get in asynch. methods such as forum posts as well. It is all in how elements are worded and students follow up and continue the discussion.
Herbert Brown III
Since I have never taught an online class before, I have not had any experience with live chats. But I would imagine it is the best way to bring classroom discussion (a very important component to learning)to an online class.
Sandra,
Do you require live chat sessions? I have also found that the students that use all the resources in the class, including video elements, are the most successful. The ones that just try to get by reviewing the minimal amount of class resources usually end up with the lowest grades.
Herbert Brown III
I agree. In my experience teaching online the most successful students are attending live chat or listening to the recorded archive.
Dennis,
This has been my experience as well. The "bubble" students as I call them are those that are on the bubble of moving forward or not passing the class. I set up sessions for them but they generally don't attend and then when they do poorly in the course squawk the loudest. I just keep trying new and creative ways to engage them at we do enjoy success at times.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
David
I have the same experience with different learning environments and sadly it seems the students, who really need the live chats, don't attend or review the recorded archives while the best students attend them or listen to the recorded archives.
Cheers, Dennis
We conduct our live chats via Webinars. Attendance by students can be a problem, but those that do attend have benefitted. I constantly invite students to attend the webinars whenever I am submitting feedback to them.
I agree with this statement, but also find that depending on the time zone that the student is in, I do not get as much participation as I hope for. I conduct online "office hours" each week whereby I login and post a link and phone number that students can dial into and login to as well and this serves as a good method for a conference call. I like this method because instead of just keeping up with my texts in a chat session, they are able to hear my voice as I present things on a virtual blackboard.
I agree with these statements. I have also found the students who attend the live chats will perform much better in the class. The chat sessions offer the student the opportunity to get a (better) understanding of the course material. It is through the chat the student will begin to open up and allow the instructor to provide assistance that will be of benefit to that individual. Although many may be on the chat session, the assistance can be individualized as they ask their questions and receive resolutions and understanding. The students then attend further chat sessions as they are more comfortable with posing questions.
I agree, but sometimes it is hard to get students to come to those live chats. I have students who call or email me whiling I am in my live chat instead of showing up and asking questions.
Rhonda,
This seems to be very common. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I have had similiar feedback as well. Most students take online courses to avoid to traditional classroom strategies such as meeting live, therefore, they typically do not show for chat sessions.
Roshawna,
Your experience seems relatively common. I have not yet found an adequate answer for your question. The asynchronous class dynamic seems to not be aligned well with this component in many cases.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Thanks for the thread. I received feedback from several students that they prefer to be able to contact the Instructor when needed versus a chat. I have taught 4 sessions for the college and have never had a student to engage in the chat session. I emailed them the night before and the morning of. What feedback can you provide me to assist in having students attend chat?
