Sorry - Hit the wrong key.... I was mentioning the most important things to consider.
1) The course objectives should be supported and met by the Teaching Pattern that the instructor adopts
2) The Teaching Patter should be effective in terms of meeting student needs and helping to guide them through the learning process.
The facilitation of learning is the key. We need to focus on what we are accomplishing and match our style, process and tools to acheive those ends in the easiest and most effective manner.
I believe the two largest considerations are communication and outcomes
The goal is to work diligently on course content. This material must be communicated properly to insure learning outcomes are met. I see course content and learning outcomes being the most important to consider. Communication of this information in a clear and concise manner is also key.
I feel it is critically important that the facilitator participates in the on-line discussion. In the past in some of the courses which I personally have taken the communication is between the students with little or no input from the on-line facilitator. This is a recipe for failure, students are disenchanted in many ways. The students are looking for expertise in many cases, when this is missing on-line educations receives bad press.
Communication and learning outcomes are a key, I agree totally.
Jeanelle,
I create an extra discussion board and call it: coffee chat, getting to know each other. I ask students to share things about themselves, like why are they taking this course, what degree are they seeking, do they work in the field. Then I usually ask one ice breaking question: what is your favorite ice cream, what is your favorite color. (There are studies done on personality types regarding peoples favorite colors.)
If the session is around a holiday, I may ask them what is their favorite tradition. During chat sessions I try to give them a poll question to answer.
Jennifer
I think you are so on top of it. I interact on the discussion boards and announcment page each day. I think it is important that students know we are there for them. If they feel that we care, then they are more likely to care as well. I tell my students if they have not gotten a response from me within 24 hours that it means it did not make it to me and please resend.
I believe that communication is key. I start communicating with my students the day they have access to the class by sending them a welcome email with a few housekeeping items to help them get started. I tend to email what I post to them on the announcement page as well.
Content delivery is important to keep the students engaged in the learning enviornment. We want them to be excited to learn.
Hi Bill,
I agree with you--I think establishing communication and learning outcomes are so important, especially in an online setting. Students want to know what is expected of them, and many want to understand "the big picture" of the course right from the beginning.
When it comes to clearly communicating learning outcomes and course materials, we have so many options available to us. I've taught at schools that require a synchronous component, and I've taught at schools that are entirely asynchronous. I think it's interesting to think about the differences between those two formats and how they meet the needs of students. On one side, it's great to teach live because we can check for understanding right on the spot. On the other hand, not all students can attend live sessions.
So far, I've found that it's helpful to a bit of each in all classrooms. At schools that don't require synchronous activity, it's nice to offer a couple chats for anyone who is interested. At schools who do have synchronous activity, I always make sure to record sessions for those who can't attend. Hopefully by using multiple methods of communication we will be able to reach all students in some way, shape, or form.
Given the environment in which I teach, many components of the course are pre-established. Therefore, I considered this question in light of the areas where I have control as the instructor. With this in mind I believe the two most important areas to consider are learning outcomes and communication.
Learning outcomes: The learning outcomes must be clearly stated on the course syllabus. Additionally, as the instructor I must also demonstrate how the learning outcomes are tied to each weekly assignment deliverable. For example, in my course announcements, instructor notes and live chats I have an opportunity to communicate how the weekly assignments and readings are tied to the learning outcomes for the unit. It is also important to demonstrate to students the “bigger pictureâ€, and how the learning outcomes support what they may face in the “real worldâ€. I can effectively convey that in the live chats, the discussion board and in my substantive assignment feedback. When students see the value in what they are learning, this can lead to a greater motivation to become more fully engaged and successfully complete the course
Communication: As we learned in this module, communication is essential. The online environment can present a challenge in the area of communication, as we lack the face to face interaction. However, I believe that virtual education does not have to mean “distance†education. If I am communicating effectively with my students, I should be as accessible as a face to face instructor would be. I must communicate the course objectives/expectations, assignment submission process, my contact information, live chat times, office hours, assignment requirements, etc. Much of this is posted on the announcement board and in the instructor files where I can place documents. I have also set up a thread on the discussion board for students to post questions and share real world experiences. I interact on the discussion boards twice a day, every day. It is critical that I demonstrate my involvement in the course and establish that I am accessible and timely with my responses.
Acceptance that I am learning also. So over time my skills improve.
Awareness that I can learn from those who have been there before me. Seek to improve every day.
good points. Establishing a consistent pattern is important.
This is no different in the online classroom. The pattern may be how you layout your course in the LMS or how you frame your discussions.
I don't teach any online learning classes but I realize how much I learn from observing other teachers. In recent feedback I received a student said I wasn't organized. In a class I observed the instructor went through the goals of the class as soon as she started then revisited them as she ended. I really appreciated how I could incorporate that into my classes. Personally, my students have started to learn how my classroom works. We are in a certain pattern. We start with lecture, they take a break, when they return I demo skills and they start their lab. At the end of the day we review what they learned and look ahead for the next class.
When establishing a pattern of teaching, the two most important things to consider are the learning objectives (Terminal Course Objectives) and the students’ expectations to put one way….satisfying those to put another. Students should understand what the rhythm of the course will be so that they can plan and get the assignments completed on time. They can also attend class functions. It establishes synchronous classroom times and asynchronous rules of engagement. The latter rules might be the most difficult for students since it requires a commitment and a motivation to self-start and get the Discussion Board assignment done on time or receive a diminished grade (as an example). I also like to demo the board early on so that students know what a post should look like (model.) Currently I have several chats a week but due to access differences of students they are optional. I get a good turnout so am well-prepared to engage students, making the material as interesting as possible, to improve the students understanding of material and get back again. Both asynchronous and synchronous instruction and student involvement can be very effective if properly linked to what it is the course should deliver and the student should learn.
What strategies do you use to incorporate learning outcomes in a variety of ways.
The two most important things to consider when establishing a pattern of teaching are communication and learning outcomes. There must be effective communication between the instructor and students. Also, the students must know what they will learn and how they must express their acquired knowledge in order to master the course content.
- Bill Lembke
I really like how you articulated "clear parameters" I think your one and two go hand in hand.
I love this question and it is something that I am very passionate about.
If I am instructing in an online course that does not have pre-produced course materials, then making certain the materials I create are beneficial to my students (both in content and access) is the number one priority.
After that (and in the case of a course with pre-produced materials) my two most important patterns to establish are:
1. Clear expectations for the student and myself as the instructor. Students tend to be much more engaged when they understand what they must do, how the will do it, and what role the instructor will play in the learning process.
2. Clear parameters for communication. Online students often suffer from a feeling of disconnection when compared to "on-ground" classroom experiences. By making certain students know the best channels to contact the instructor and when they can expect a reply, some of the anxiety can be alleviated. This same approach should be applied to grading, feedback, and all student/teacher interactions.
Good points. Just make sure that you are not online all the time. :)
