Student engagement is vital to a successful online course. Communication within the online community is a vehicle for student engagement.
I appreciate the comments concerning generations of learners. Each generation has it's strengths but we often judge or hold ones outside our own as deficient, lazy, ridiculous, tyrants, etc. As we blend these groups, we are able to find the best of all and develop an appreciation for differences.
Timely and coureous communication with students is essential for helping them communicate effectively. Messages should be considerate and reviewed before posting. On discussion board there should only be general assignment messages and communication tha all can read, all personal things like grades and criticisms should be communicated through email only. Be very clear that in the online classroonm communication is part of their grade and they must participate. They can be encouraged through making introductions, having them moderate a communication assignment, and just sharing.,
It is important that studetns understanding being open minded, using creativity and understanding all guidelines to help with the succcess online.
The age differences are not as much of an issue online then face-to-face or in a classroom. Omce everyone gets aclimated, evertone is on a level playing feild. The internet is not rocket science.
To effectively conduct your class online, I've found that the students have to be incentivized in a variety of ways in order to engage them in this challenging learning environment!
Student engagement is so important here. Helpful info here on potential generational issues!
Knowing your audience will help to ensure the success of your online class. Each generation has strengths and weaknesses that can be played on and can give the instructor guidance with problem solving.
In order for students to be succesful communication and self disipline is key.
For effective communiction with students, the instructor needs to know the generation that each learner belongs to . I will ensure that I have the guidelines clearly artiulated in the syllabus inorder to improve my level of communication with the students
It takes a different mindset to partake in an online class. Those involved need to be open minded, use appropriate communication, be self-disciplined, and have a good sense of time management. Teachers should be mindful of their responses to students. If needed, they should write the response, but perhaps walk away before sending it, and come back and read/send later.
I will be working with ELL students therefore I will need to work with them on proper grammer, spelling, and not using text lingo.
Make myself visible online and be willing to find the best ways to communicate with all learners.
I found the first part of this section to perpetuate several stereotypes.
Students need several skills in order to be successful in an online class.
What students really need in ordrer to be successful in any online course or in life in general is to be self movtivated, self disiplined and have great time management skills as well as a need to have great communication skills.
The online teacher sets to tone for the class and encourages the students students through guidelines of clear communication. Understand that instructors my outline proper commincation, model proper communication as well as facilitate proper communication with timely feedback. It is a skill that is to be modeled and taught as part of the course.
Understanding characteristics of each generation will help facilitate instructor-to-student (I2S), student-to-instructor (S2I), and student-to-student (S2S) communication. An understanding of these characteristics also helps build community in the course, as well as facilitate effective communication in the workplace.
This information will assist with differentiated instruction in which instructors need to understand where their students are "coming from", to be able to help them achieve the learning outcomes/objectives.
Instructors need to develop communication guidelines when considering these generational differences.
i feel if a communication mishap happens, try to have a private message with the students, to help ensure the student feels comfortable and moves forward with online communicztion.
I am a baby boomer. It is always a good review for me to read about the other generations and their common views and characteristics. It remonds me that common sense or common courtesy is defined diffentently by the other generations.
In another module I read a comment that resonated with me. That is: The instructor must remember to facilitate, not dominate, the communication process. In my view, instructors who are facilitators and dominators are most effective. My goal is to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge to be able to be a good facilitor.
I learned with online learning, miscommunication can occur. To help minimize misunderstandings, it is important for the instructor to inidividualize thier mode of communication to each students.
