Albert Alexander

Each facilitator should set aside time for unexpected student behavior and for unexpected events that affects the class room. Do you have a minimum amount of time that you require yourself to provide to students? If you do what are the reasons you fail to provide that minimum amount of time per week or per unit for each student?

IM (Instant Messaging) and live chats permit immediate and direct response to student questions. Consider allowing substantial time for IM throughout the week to reduce the frustration of waiting for an instructor's reply. Consider using IM to "hunt" students and ask for their feedback on how they are doing... You send an email to initiate the discussion for students whom you believe are in danger of being high risk. Request a meeting in live chat so that the student can hear your voice.

I begin my course with my bio, an open forum called Community where students introduced themselves to one another, and an email called First Contact. I request that students (within their level of comfort) provide information on themselves and on their expectations about the course. Basic information on their family life, work schedules, and their level of shyness is one source of identifying areas that could become a future concern.