Public
Activity Feed Discussions Blogs Bookmarks Files

Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

New ways to learn

With so many additional online tools to help facilitate online learning and hybrid learning and with greater awareness of the present generations regarding such, there are so many choices to help instructors better facilitate classes. I teach for more than one school and find that often the tools available in classrooms may need to be supplemented with adding learning tools that help students to learn. I think this is important when considering online learning.

Online Learning

I think it is important to provide the students the tools they need for success.

Internet

One of the most common reasons a test or assignment is missed is due to the internet. Some students wait until the last minute to complete work and if the internet fails, they miss the deadline. With some students this seems to be an ongoing problem. What solutions would you offer those students?

Approach

I really like the idea of the holistic approach. It really helps me understand my students' needs when I know a little something about what they are going through. Unfortunately, not all students will come out and discuss their issues with instructors. What type of questions do you feel are appropriate when attempting to reach out to failing students yet not crossing that line of privacy?

Software

In one of my classes I teach a software program used for medical billing and coding. Some students have technical issues with this program. I have them contact technical support at our school, then the issue gets resolved, but in the meantime, the clock is ticking and students sometimes are late with their work because of this. What do you suggest I offer my students to overcome the technical issues (most are due because they don't follow instructions)?

Education and technology

Many of my students are limited when it comes to live labs because of the limited minutes on their phones. They miss out on valuable interaction with the instructor and classmates. What would you suggest I me to offer my students in lue of the live labs?

A little visual organization goes a long way in user interface.

Humans are in part visual creatures. Graphics and visual imagery can really help in creating a good intellectual interactive environment.

On line trainning

I believe that on line class are good for those of us who work, have kids and have no time for a traditional school. There are far more many people that still want a traditional learning environment, to have interaction with an instructor and pears in a class room setting.

Now, What Were We Discussing?

When replying to others, try and think of interesting questions you can ask them. This will help both you and the other person think (and learn!) about the subject you are discussing.

It's All Greek To Me ...

Socratic questions require you to listen very carefully to the other person to help you judge and phrase your question in a helpful, constructive, and hopefully non-confrontational way.

A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Forum ...

In the forums it will really help to keep your whole posts short and on-topic. Instead of one long rambling post that makes many different points, it may be better to write several shorter ones (they may even belong in separate forums).

Knowing Your Audience

When writing text for others to read, try and write directly to your audience.

Model Answers

While it may be a function of my primary teaching area (accounting, the provision of a model answer troubles me. Sad to say, but cheating appears to be rampant in the online environment. I know I cannot stop it, but I prefer not to be an enabler of the process. When it comes to accounting problems, while it does take more time, I think it makes more sense to assist the student by addressing the point at which s/he took a wrong turn rather than simply providing the model answer. I am pleased to see some universities using algorithmic based accounting problems so that each learner in a class is completing the same problem but with different numbers. This works well with my preference for explaining how to approach the problem correctly. While the learner may still relatively easily acquire "a" correct answer, it will not necessarily be "the" correct answer for his/her problem. S/he will still have to work through the steps thereby achieving, at the very least, some understanding of the underlying concepts. Does anyone else have thoughts about how to address model answers for classes that rely heavily on computational assignments?

Course Syllabus: An Important Foundation

The course syllabus if an important piece of information. I encourage my students to refer to it as necessary. I suggest they keep it handy throughout the entire marking period albeit a hard copy in their school bag or electronically on their laptop. I've had students ask random questions about when exams occur or when practical exams begin. While I'm happy to answer any and all questions I do expect them to be able to answer those questions responsibly on their own time by referring to the course syllabus. I take my time reviewing the course syllabus on the first day of every new resident course and point students toward the syllabus posted in the online portion of the course. Upon reviewing the sample course syllabus provided in this module, I also feel as though the syllabus I provide my students is very detailed in regards to all areas of the course expectations.

Course Evaluation

Why is Course Evaluation an ongoing process?

Assessment Methods in an Online Learning Environment

The methods of assessment included in an online course should depend on the needs and characteristics of the learners, the instructor, and the course subject matter.Do you agree? Provide your Reasons.

Managing the Downfalls of Synchronous Chat

Synchronous chat is a wonderful tool for stimulating in-lass discussions,but there are still notable pitfalls to it. What are some of the techniques for managing the downfalls of synchronous chat?

E-Learning Discussion Board/Forum Best Practices

The purpose of the Discussion Board is to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content and the forum’s question. A good way to keep the discussion board lively is by asking a good question that can trigger participants to delve more into the topic through research, evaluate existing ideas, and create new ideas. Provide a good question on E-Learning Discussion Board/Forum Best Practices; such that can trigger one to delve more into the topic through research, evaluate existing ideas, and create new ideas.

Do you feel gamification can add value in on-line learning?

Gamification (the application of game-design thinking to non-game applications to make them fun and engaging) is becoming increasingly popular as a marketing and promotions tool. Do you feel gamification could add value to on-line learning?

Using Multimedia in Blackboard

I encourage all my instructors to use multimedia to help emphasis their lectures online. Khan Academy is an excellent website with instructional videos that help explains varies subjects.