Walking in their shoes
I like that analogy of the "Therapist" as another role or "pair of shoes" we wear. This just reminds me how each student is an individual and needs to be treated with care and concern. Each has their own needs, wants and conflicts and should be respected as it exist. We can be kind and still keep our students aware of the expectations we have for them and their responsibility to reach their goals. Our presence and approachability should be felt by them.
I find many of my on-campus students came from backgrounds similar to mine and therefore I think of them as my peers. I try to treat all my students as such and we usally interact well as long as they respect my role as instructor. I use the same approach for online students because you never know their background and should not assume anything or treat them differently. Other than you currently being the faciliator for their course, we all have similar issues and were all students. I try to treat all students like I want to be treated. Besides the instructor knowing the course material, the ones I respected most when I was a student were those who as Rhonda stated were "open, receptive, responsive, and fair".
Lyn,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Students can develop relationships within a course by posting, discussing, and blogging. It may not be "natural" for us but it works for them. You as the instructor need to set the perimeters and expectations but they will follow it. They communicate regularly with friends this way. We as educators need to tap into that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe, the 'openness' and/or 'flaming' in which today's online students communicate are mainly a by-product of the increasing use of computers and technology in their everyday lives. One reason may be that their comfort level has increased due to familiarity of these online products, services and/or sources. The ease and the availability of social sites, blogs, chat rooms, etc., has made it easier to 'express yourself'.
Statistically, those who grew up with the internet are more likely to share their comments/opinions. They can 'like', share, post, rate, deny or 'pin" to their heart's content. This may be a marketer's dream with billions of dollars to be made from the feedback provided (potentially free of charge), but before I started teaching online courses, I found myself rather concerned about what this might mean in the virtual classroom.
I have been teaching online courses for two years now and have found many of my students have no qualms about sharing, whether asynchronously or synchronously. Although, I do need to step in and offer student 'corrections' from time to time, to my surprise, they police themselves rather well. I find much of their input has been as favorable and helpful to each other as a standard F2F interaction. To my delight, they are usually courteous and respectful to one another.
Frances,
You make a great point. You must show students good behavior by example. You can hold students to standards and still be respectful. I think students do always see that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Ava,
I think it is essential to be respectful, even when students do not show much respect to us. When a student does not turn in an assignment or turns it in late, I try not to think that they are just malingering, but may have other issues with work and family that may have caused that to happen. But even with acknowledging that other elements keep students from completing assignments, at the end of the day the assignment still has to be submitted within a reasonable time. One thing that I try to keep in mind when grading, answering emails, etc. is to "be kind" in my wording and tone.
Sarah,
Great post, and insight. I too struggle with that balance. I have some students that will expect me to "waive" work when that can't be done.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
That is surely an important point - to balance kindness with sticking to expectations and responsibilities.
I have noticed that some students will share a lot about personal problems but sometimes it will come out down the road that a student that did not share as much was facing some serious situations with the class or in his or her personal life. Sometimes this is hard because I'd like to offer the appropriate assistance for these situations but I also don't want students to feel like they have to share lots of personal details.
So far I've handled this by saying if there is a situation in class or outside of class that is making things difficult you don't have to tell me what it is but do let me know that's what's going on. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.
-Sarah
Frank,
You are right about remembering what it is like to be a student. That is why the best way to learn to teach online is to be a student learn. Good post!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I always try to remember what it was like being a student and being fairly dependent on my instructors for many things during a course. i took many online courses as I progressed and so I try to apply many of the positive examples of good instructors that I had along the way as I relate to the situation that each student faces in the online classroom environment.
Frank Nolan
Rhonda,
You are so right. You have to make sure that students know you are still the instructor!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I try to put myself in their shoes by being open, receptive, responsive and fair. The Therapist role is taxing.
Chad,
What a great post, I agree. You do have some people who are embolden in an online course and becomes the guardian of the discussion. You have to have policies about it and enforce it!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think students share much more in an online environment through asynchronous communication than the do in a face to face classroom. Now, this isn't always a good thing! Sometimes students are much more likely to have "flaming" behavior through email and writing than they would in a face to face interaction.
Ava,
You are right! We do need to add that! It is also amazing what students will share. . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
