Austin,
You are right. You must also hold students to that expectation. I am surprised how many instructors establish expectations then do not hold students to them, then are surprised when students to meet expectations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Carl,
What a great point! Yes, if you don't establish pattern and be consistent with it students WILL develop their own devices to make it through the course which can be problematic not just for the current course, but other courses that follow.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Mahmoud,
True, what is a strategy you would use for that?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Mahmoud,
You are right, or probably a better term, course design. Course design should be the framework of an online course.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Yes pointing to where the resources are located would help the students. It is frustrating for students to find information and are not able to locate them.
Model your expectation of students and communicate required activities for students to perform in order to be successful. Also include the consequences of not following instructions.
the two most important things to consider when establishing a pattern of teaching are:
1. Start the pattern from the very beginning
2. Make the pattern clear and easy to follow
If you don't start the pattern at the beginning then many students will form their own poor pattern.
If the pattern is homework every Monday but the students can't find the homework or the link doesn't work then it won't do any good.
Clear and concise communication are imperative to successful facilitation.
No matter whether instructors develop a course for synchronous or asynchronous facilitator should consider the following two most important pattern of teaching;
1- delivery, and
2- organization
Derek,
Agreed. Clear guidelines are important. Where do you put your guidelines and how to make sure students follow them?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Derek,
Agreed. Clear guidelines are important. Where do you put your guidelines and how to make sure students follow them?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe that clear guidelines for students to follow are the most important factor. A second factor would be having established guidelines for grading. This might include a rubric for assignments to be graded with.
Lyn ,
You have a great strategy in place. I agree that consistency is the key.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
William,
I agree with you. Do you have policy in your syllabus about answering emails? I think that is also the key.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi everyone,
1. Students need to know how I am going to interact with them. I provide some day one documents to let them know my expectations and to clarify those. One document posted is called FAQs and Tips for Success, another is Class Expectations which supplements the Syllabus,a third is the Policies for submitting late assignments, and of course, welcome letter that encourages communication with me and how to reach me.
2) Establish a pattern or flow for my interactions that is consistent. Study Guides are always uploaded the first day of each week, grades are always posted by Wednesday, chats are consistently on the same day and time, and emails are responded to within 24 hours. Lyn
Hello
Consistency is essential when teaching online. Informing the students up front on the first day what your expectations are is vital. Then by following through with what you stated time after time students will know what to expect from the instructor and what the instructor expects back from the student.
Even though it’s an online classroom and the instructor is to be considered a facilitator rather than an instructor, it is so important that not only are you there for your students when they need you but to develop the best you can a rapport with them as well. I do this by answering emails within 24 hours, being present at scheduled office hours and chats.
Bill Becker
Michael,
Have you thought about give them an exam on the syllabus? I have instructors that do that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dawn,
Great post. You are right communication is the key to all teaching. It always seems to be my (instructor's) fault for not telling students about important information when the info is everywhere online.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Russell,
The biggest way to explain the methods is through the course outline or syllabus. It is the basis for the course, and all of the guidelines can be established on day one of the course. Also going through the course you reinforce what was stated in the outline to show there is no variance on how the class in functioning.
I would have to say the two most important things to consider when establishing a pattern of teaching are: (1) A clearly outlined grading process which includes penalties for late work and plagiarism issues, and (2) Communication of important information in every possible way – announcements, emails, discussion boards, live chats if available, etc. Uninformed students are the “death†of an online classroom.
Have a good day!
Dawn
