Incorporating Your Instructional Style Into Online Learning
My most recent challenge has been to incorporate my instructional style into teaching online classes. I've added podcasts, videos, my own lecture material (not canned ones from the publisher) and offered my students times to meet me and study with me on campus. How do all of you incorporate your unique style into the online learning environment?
Jennifer,
Great analysis of how you can be an effective instructor as you develop your professional skills. This experience is helping you to see how you can interact and support your own students when you have them. Thanks for sharing with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
While I have not had the opportunity to teach online material, I am currently enrolled in a Master's program that is 100% online. Because I am an out of state student I do not have the ability to meet with the instructor, yet have had great experiences with all instructors and classes taken thusfar.
Ways in which I still feel connected, as the student, while never setting foot on campus usually begin with the assignments for the first week. The instructors have a small personal and professional introduction on themselves and ask the students to do the same. Some instructors ask students to respond to other students so that communication begins from day one. What I particularly enjoy about this is that I feel as though I am getting to know the instructor even though we will probably never meet. Additionally, learning a little bit about the personal life and knowing more about their background helps me relate to them on a personal level.
Other ways in which I have found instructional style come out through online forums is the replies and feedback I receive on my assignments. Having an instructor point out specific points or even sentences from my posts/assignments has made it apparent they have actually taken the time to read my material I spent so long writing. Another style I have learned from is when the instructor shares personal experiences right along with the other students on online discussion postings. By sharing discoveries of new video materials as well as other sources of good information that relates to the topic I can literally feel the compassion the instructor has towards the subject; even if it is through the computer.
