Teaching Business Online
Hello
As many of you have already witnessed teaching certain courses online can be somewhat of a challenge. Especially in classes that have a school structured learning curriculum that does not allow for much “wiggle room†as far as the instructor goes. At my school we use a chat room environment to facilitate learning which in itself can be quite a challenge; especially if you have only one hour a week to do so. I have found that using short media clips can really help as long as the instructor stops and interacts with their students during the presentation.
Bill Becker
Taiwan,
I like that you give out the roles. This way some of the quiet students may get a bigger role that they have wanted in the past...or not wanted!
Shelly Crider
In courses where there is very little to no "wiggle" room, there is one immediate advantage...simplicity. When teaching on-line specifically, the best approach I have always enjoyed is the incorporation of an on-topic project that requires a collaborative effort from the students taking the course. Giving them different roles where they have to report their findings/results helps keep everyone engaged and on task.
Julie Ann,
I think you are right! Students want to hear about real work experiences....the good, bad, and ugly!
Shelly Crider
In my experience teaching business-related courses, I have found that students really want to hear about your professional experiences in the field. Anything anecdotal, particularly when tied into a video or other imagery, really captivates the student and gives more credibility to the instructor.
Meir,
Excellent post. Experience base is a must!
Shelly Crider
This is true, BUT, they need to have the experience base that can help them to reflect on the issue. Teaching international business strategy at a corporate level and using a great media clip to support the subject, to students that never left the country and have an entry level job will provide for a minimal value.
Agreed. Short media clips along with current events helps to give the student a sense of reality they can attribute to concepts.
I have found that by giving students the opportunity to identify with real world issues that mirror the course concepts they have much better retention.
Morissa Pawl
William,
This is true. Short media clips can be a helpful tip for the students.
Shelly Crider
