Great point on students thinking online means easy. In fact online just means some level of flexibility. In fact I have found that in many instances that the online curriculum is actually more rigorous than face-to-face. I underlying thought in my opinion is to ensure that the curriculum is beyond reproach.
This is a great question. It is important for students to complete a self-analysis because it provides insight into their learning styles, motivation, and understanding of a topic. Having this insight allows the student the opportunity to make adjustments to ensure overall success. This information in a consolidated form also provides key information to the instructor on how to teach a course. There are many way to approach and teach a subject. By knowing the students level of knowledge, and preferred learning styles the instructor can place focus in the weaker areas, and present the information in a manner that increased the learning for the group overall.
I have had the same experience with teaching online courses. Time management becomes an issue because students feel that procrastination is an option when a face to face meeting is not mandatory. A student self-analysis allows the instructor to view the student's expectations and assumptions and then allows for them to be addressed in a realistic manner before the course begins.
As an essential phase of online learning, students should complete a self-analysis inventory. This will allow the student as well as the instructor to learn and understand the strengths and weakness each student has and hopefully pave a way for the online student to be successful within the online class.
It is very important so that students can gauge their readiness for the online classroom. Once they are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, they can better focus on strategies to improve. Learning style, personality type, etc. are important factors that both instructors and students need to be aware of so that both instruction and learning methods can be best tailored for success.
A self analysis is a good tool to use to assess who the student is. This way, both you and the student understand the student a little better, especially since it may not be face-to-face in a classroom setting. The analysis is also a good tool to view how the students measures him/herself and what holds their interest.
Lori
In my experience, some students don't fully understand the demands that online learning will bring with it. Completing a self-analysis would help them to understand their strengths and weaknesses. It also would help them to understand the unique challenges and requirements inherent in online classes. This would give them the ability to improve on areas of lesser strength.
Patricia,
You make the point of good fit. I agree that not every person should teach online (or teach)!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Patricia,
You are so right! We have to continue to work on improving our skills online. That is life long learning!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Patricia,
You are so right! Information is power for both instructor and students! Good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Kara,
I agree with you that when we give the self analysis inventory they end up learning something about themselves. Along with the student learning about themselves I think it is important that we also take them as instructor in order to learn something about ourselves and to make sure that we are a good fit.
Patricia
Hi Dr. Kelly Wilkinson,
It is very scarey for students to begin school but to begin school online it can be even more scarier. When we ask the student to complete the self analysis inventory we are evaluating if they will be a good online student. They are able to see what skills they have currently and what they may need to work on in order to be successful in the program.
But in reading the first slide about the self analysis I definitely agree with them when they say we should also have the instructors take a self analysis inventory to see if they will be able to be a successful online instructor. As instructors we play a huge part in the students success and we need to know that we can be that person.
PAtricia
It is very important to ask online students to complete a self-analysis inventory because an instructor can learn about their strengths and weaknesses. This is very essential in the learning and teaching process.
Madhuchanda,
You are right. It is important for students to know what they are good at as well as their weaknesses.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Thomas ,
You make a great point. You may have to provide resources for students to use to address those learning gaps.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important that students complete a self-analysis because they need to know their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, they need to understand what kind of learners they are - auditory, visual, kinesthetic.
Time management is an important element for success in the online environment. A student needs to know how to manage his time in order to be both efficient and effective in the online classroom.
Chanda Ghose
I think it will help an Instructor to better understand the level of "learning readiness" their students might be at. I have noticed quite a variation in learning readiness from class to class.
Jocelyn,
Being "forewarned is forearmed" is so true. I think we can also make this exercise in professional development.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Robert,
Being in a college of business our students do get some SWOT analysis training. However, we have just started using that technique for professional development.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Robert,
You make a great point. That is a great topic to discuss. it is teaching students to organize and prioritize. We don't offer a course in that. . . yet!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
