Harry Taylor

Just a couple of comments today.  This module reemphasized the importance of communication and organized record keeping.  When dealing with students behaviors and conflicts--document, document, document.  From day one, we should be on the top of our game, willing to look at our own issues before  we deal with students.  For me, that issue is procrastination.  If I expect certain behaviors from them, I need to model good characteristics myself.  Now technology--a computer instructor told me that young people who have grown up using computers may be great "gamers", but never assume they will be computer whizzes in the classroom… >>>

The only discus sion forum I have been involved in personally as a student has been the asynchronous platform.  From an information standpoint, it seems to be superior to the synchronous discussion mainly because it allows each student to gather and organize his thoughts and present them without distraction.  I do see the use of small groups for the synchronous discussion and setting time limits for discussion, but I am not totally convinced yet because I have relied on face to face for a long time.  This is something for me to overcome, since I will drive out of my… >>>

Total transparency and honesty is most important in projecting your presence and gaining respect.  The professor should model a bio for the students with his basic background, education and experience.  Finally, a bit of personal information can finish off the presentation.  Then, to build relationship, it is important to have them respond with a brief bio to begin the class.  Then both  sides have information to build on.

From where I sit, the characteristics of a good classroom and course management are fundamentally the same as they have been throughout history.  Only the format and the mode of delivery have changed--radically.  As the "old geezer" that I am, I revel in the vibrance and vitality of the face to face learning experience.  Yet, the online platform has given us a positive platform from which we can more effectively manage teaching.  It gives us the opportunity to be more focused, with less distraction, on the task at hand.  The one fly in the ointment can be the technological side when… >>>