Connectivity
If you give a person enough rope usually they will hang themselves with it. I think that connectivity to the internet can be a useful tool in a small group environment, however in a large group, in my experience, students tend to wander away from the task a hand either from boredom or from confusion. If you are going to give internet connection time to sudents as a tool I think the instructor should be equipped to view what each student, in class only, is looking at. This should deter the students from gravitating from the sites they "should" be at.
Jason I used this type of software nearly 15 years ago and it was a slight deterrent at that time. Fast forward to today and the advances in technology, I can do just about everything on my Note 4 that I could do on my first computer - actually more. As instructors we are going to have to come up with ways of engaging students with all this technology or our jobs will become increasingly frustrating.
Randa,
This is always a challenge, however, students can help one another if you organize your students into groups and make sure that each group includes both strong and struggling students.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
i found connectivity hard due to each learner at a different skill level. I had students who were advanced then others who were way behind. It was very hard to keep them on the same chapters or lessons.
Joseph,
Yes, most CMS systems have that functionality...it does not, however, tell us their level of engagement or if they have been concentrating the entire time :) That is still measured the "old fashioned way" ...by the demonstration of their learning.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have noticed that some of the newer online meeting enviroments can actually determine whether or not a student is engaged during a given presentation and in the online classroom we do have an ability to actually determine the total time that a student is online and the specifics with regard to time spent of a given assignment, test, discussion, etc. Joe Skeens
David,
Yes, that happens in my classes too but I try to use that energy to provide direct and most current information on various content I'm presenting...so things like, "someone please look up the date of the study conducted in New Zealand on the uses of IPads in instruction..." for example, are great for everyone and build research and analysis skills at the same time.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The Internet can be a distraction. I have had situations in a classroom where I have discussed a specific situation in business and a student will hold up his hand to tell me he just looked it up on the Internet and indicated that a different result had been reported. We took the time to explore his source only to find it was wrong; but it was a distraction and took time away from the topic at hand.
Alfred,
I think you are referring to the amount of information and activities available on the Internet. Yes, teachers should design the instruction so that students stay focused and engaged. Having too much information is always a distraction and teachers have always been involved in helping students learn how to find and manage useful information. Good points!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Yes, the Internet is a resourceful tool but there are times when it becomes a distraction. There needs to be rules in place of a classroom in order to keep students on track. However, for an online classroom that is more difficult as students are not physically present.
Jennifer,
I like the forum use you describe, however, I have used group work quite successfully with fully online classes. It can work but requires either a forum, as you describe, or a Wiki space so that you can monitor the progress of each group.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I agree with this idea as otherwise they start checking email, getting on facebook, diverting from the topic as well. In my classes as well, I request all computers stay closed and I will tell them when to open them to work on a class group project. In my online classes I have no group projects, however I have heard other instructors make sure everything is posted on a forum and not through emails for example. So when areas of concern come up like "we contacted him/her and they never got back to us" and the other says "I never got an email" - we can avoid this my requiring all postings and communication on group projects are on the forum.
I agree. When working in the computer labs we have had this issue. One of the first things we did to alleviate this was to block most of tht well know social sites and emails.
Jason,
The software you describe is certainly available - networking all monitors and viewing all screens .
Dr. Ruth Reynard
