My style is to show my personality. It is important for them to see me as human as they are. This also helps them come out of their shell and blossom. A the same time it is easier to see their weaknesses and strengths so I can be more effective for them.
For those of us who are online professors, how do our teaching methodologies differ from those who teach in-resident courses? The answers to this question are obvious, of course, but the question is raised nonetheless simply to point out these obvious differences. What motivates a student in a ground-classroom may not be applicable to a student in an online-classroom.
Hi Victor,
You have hit upon the core of why instructors are needed to teach rather than just having the students work through an instructional computer program. We are the vital learning link for the students based upon our experience and knowledge of the field and we need to work to share that to the maximum extent possible.
Gary
Hi Ed,
Right you are about needing to know how to apply different instructional techniques with different student groups. I believe the variety that we experience with each new group of students is what makes teaching so much fun. We get to be creative and experiment with different strategies to determine which ones work with which group.
Gary
One effective teaching style technique to use would be Choosing teaching materials that compliment the learner. Visual learners learn by reading, looking at pictures or diagrams while kinesthetic learners learn by engaging in hands-on practices, and auditory learners learn best by listening to lectures.
Personally, I watch movies, and I find examples in the way certain characters present his or her material. I also watch videos of other instructors, and glean material from these individuals.
Donald L. Buresh
I continue to work on clarity in communication; it's a lifelong process.
As a business owner I read frequently from a variety of publications in order to gather information and insight from a heterogenous group. Inter-disciplinary communication also is a terrific source that helps expand my vocabulary and writing style. As you knonw, mining data from a single source is very limiting and tends to stifle creativity, innovation and introspection.
Whether it's in class or in other meetings and forums, I try to present information in a variety of ways, e.g. verbally, visually and kinetically to connect to people with dissimilar levels of education, experience, intelligence and receptivity to new ideas, principles and philosophies.
High-level questioning has proved to be very useful in clarifying information provided and stimulating further critical thinking by every participant. If I "ask the next question" the majority of the time people deliver with deeper level of thinking. This benefits all concerned.
Hello to All
As an Instructor in an Allied Health program I find it necessary to use life experiences to allow students to better comprehend the subject matter. Past experiences in the different areas taught and simple easy to understand explanations have allowed my students not only to grasp the ideas but also motivates them to seek more information, particularly on the internet, about the issues taught. My students come from many different cultural and economic backgrounds and their experiences add to the diversity of the resources available to them. Of course if the students don't see me as a mentor the class simply becomes an exchanges of concepts from a text book and nothing else.
Techniques vary among different instructors and there is on single technique that is a one-size-fits-all. It's best for instructors to experiment to see which instructional technique is suited for them -- and for the environment that they're in. A technique that works in environment A may not be suitable for environment B. Time and experience will help instructors to make this methodological determination.
Hi Cynthia,
So do I. This is the reason that I survey the students throughout out the course so I can keep a fix on how the course is going plus get information about how I can adjust the course for the next time. End of course surveys can also be a bit skewed as the students are being pressed to finish their work, take finals and get ready for the next phase. All of this combines to a point where they don't really reflect on the total course and give an accurate picture of what their assessment of the course really is.
Gary
Hi Cynthia,
Great job of continuing your professional growth and responding to the different delivery methods you have been using. I am sure that the refinement of your written communication will also help you with your on-site classes as well.
Gary
I also encourage debate and discussion. Students love to express their opinions, but through discussion and debate they learn to examine their assumptions and be open to other reasoning and evidence. I teach online, so I really miss seeing those "light-bulb" moments during a debate.
Great idea! I did find a free survey tool online to create surveys on assignments; many students took advantage of the opportunity to honestly assess assignments and materials. Great learning experience!
I agree. I always pay close attention to students' feedback. However, I do wish more students would complete the end of the course surveys!
After over 13 years of teaching both face-to-face classes and over six years teaching online classes, I have found my approach to mentoring and modeling changing. Even though managing an online class has not presented any additional challenges as far as creating class materials, mentoring and modeling in the online environment is a bit more challenging. With online classes, I find that detailed and clearly stated communication through Email, class discussions and live chats is a necessity. In a traditional class, students can raise their hands to ask questions, and I can respond to body language; however, in an online class, this is not the case. Thus, I have learned how to mentor and model more effectively in written communication (as well as verbally in live chat sessions).
Hi Joseph,
Observing and listening are two very valuable learning tools. Both instructors and students can benefit from doing both. Good point.
Gary
One of the most effective way to develop or refine an instructional style is to watch other instructors. The instructors don't have to be good or great instructors because there is alot that can be learned from a new or poor instructor.
Hi Gregory,
Good strategy for getting to know your students better but also knowing how you can be more effective in working with them. This will enable you to enjoy being an instructor even more and will increase the learning levels of your students.
Gary
For me it is a matter of being self aware and observing my students. If I examine what it is that makes me uniquely me and observe the qualities that get the best response from students, I can focus on those aspects. Thus I keep my own point of view, but also become more effective.
Hi Catherine,
You make a good point. Change in curriculum or instruction needs to be made in a collective way. Collect all the input you can from students, fellow instructors and your advisory committee members. Once collected then you will have a clear picture of the changes you need to make.
Gary
