The 24-hour Student
As an online instructor, it is important to be available to students whenever they contact you. I try my best to respond to all student emails within 24 hours. Many students have busy lives and it is essential for us to be available when they require our help.
Wenda,
Do you use LiveBinder? I have recently discovered this tool and it is nice!
Shelly Crider
Office hours are great, but I give my student access to me via several mediums. The more access they have, the more engaging and opened they will be with me. I want them to reach out if they have questions or concerns so I can address them. Access is the key for me.
Wenda
Jennifer,
Perfect! This also teaches the student time management as they have family and friends as well. So if they know your office hours, they can adjust their life as well.
Shelly Crider
Deanna,
it is good to set standard office hours for your students. You cannot be available in the classroom for several hours as well, but students know how to access you.
Shelly Crider
I also pride myself in being as available as possible for my students. However, I also have a life and a family so I need to find that right balance. I let my students know of my "office hours" and my "online hours" so they are fully aware of when to expect me to get back to them. For me, it works best to check for online issues in the early morning and again before bed. Leaving the better part of my day open to the things I need to tend to personally. :)
I think one thing that might help with this is having more instructors available per course. There is no way to be available 24/7 and in fact that is not the case in-live classroom settings. Certainly we would like to be available as much as possible. I think giving students the ability to have multiple points of contacts for courses would be helpful
William,
It is important for students to realize that you are a working instructor. This let's them know that you are in the field that you are teaching in!
Shelly Crider
Steven,
It is nice when the students know that there is an actual person as the instructor!
Shelly Crider
I discuss to my students the 24 hour response time on emails on the welcome page and also during the live chats. I mention to the students that I work during the days a full time job and that I will respond to their emails during the evening. Also if they need to get hold of me I provide the students my phone number.
In addition to checking/answering emails two or three times a day, I also provide a phone number that I can either answer or send to voicemail. The voicemail is then transcribed into an email that goes to my smartphone and my personal email account. I try to always be available for my students.
Me too Jeremy!
I also tell them to contact me earlier in the week with any questions, so it gives me a chance to see them face-to-face if needed before the weekend when it is due.
Dara,
Students like to know when you could be available. At the beginning of class if you mention that you normally view all email in the mornings by 10am, or something to that effect, this will really help the confidence of the student.
Shelly Crider
Jeremy,
avoiding the last minute rush will also teach time management to the student!!!!!!!!!!
Shelly Crider
I, too, try to be available as much as possible. Everyday, the first thing I do is check the emails. I do this probably twice a day. I don't want my students to feel frustrated, and this seems to alleviate their anxieties.
I do the same thing! I am always near something that I can use to respond to students. I always tell them to contact me during the week as I can't promise that I will be available on the weekend because I try to promote them not waiting till the last minute to complete an assignment...however I am always available to answer the questions quickly when they have been asked!
