Daniel,
Wow - good for you. Most online instructors have email and communication overload. But, you have a great focus - student success. Thanks!
Good point Dan. As an instructor I do focus on good communication but the fact that I am responsible with student services reps to contact students I worry that they get frustrated with all the different people calling encouraging them to participate. I must say that I do find it hard to believe if you sign up for a class you don't participate. Thanks for the feedback!
I really don't see communication - even a lot of it - as something overwhelming in an online environment. As an instructor, I keep my communication focused on a student's success. I've worked with programs where Student Advisers make the annoying contact about getting behind and not participating - and that's usually based on weekly retention reports.
This environment can be cold - and showing interest is never a bad thing.
Gail ,
Thanks for the clarification and the continuation of the sharing process through these forums.
Michael,
Definitely. I have had students ask that I quit communicating so much - especially if I'm trying to communicate in too many different ways (email, FBook, Discussion Board, Announcements, etc.). Thanks for bringing that up!
I totally agree Michael but I was thinking more that part of my job, as an instructor, is class retention and I usually either email or call every other day when a student is not participating or submitting work. Per our accreditation students need to submit work or after 12 days are to be dropped form the program so I try to reach out to the students that are having difficulties to see if there is something I can do to assist them and get them to participate in class. Is there a better way to handle retention without having to contact them so often?
I believe we can overload the communication process by constantly sending emails and different announcements to the students being redundant to something we have already mentioned. Just like with anything that's too much, will become overwhelming. The students may even feel that the instructor is not allowing them the space to complete their assignments without overloading them with more information.
Suzanne,
We can be overloaded by communication (too many emails) and students can feel the same. That's a good point. We have to find that considerate, respectful, timely, meaningful communication balance. Thanks!
I agree that we can sometimes annoy a student with too much communication. Even if we simply ensure that our communication is substantive, it is possible to cause a student to feel guilty about non-performance and our communication overall can trigger a negative reaction in the student which may create a negative attitude to learning in that particular course. Selective communication processes should be considerate and respectful and some of that should include the amount of times we communicate.
Suzanne
Gail ,
Yes, I have. One semester I did FBook, Blackboard and Twitter. All I did was create more work for me. We do have to be smart about using our time wisely and still communicating effectively.
Thanks for bringing that up.
