What facilitation skills are needed to engage students?
To engage students, the following facilitation skills are needed: Questioning, listening, feedback skills, provision of direaction and support, and motivation.
Gilbert,
I don't believe in zero tolerance but I do think we have to hold students accountable to deadlines and commitments. Taking a course online is a commitment and students have to held to deadlines. The workload also must be realistic.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe that another part of being a good instructor is to understand the background and situation of your students. If a student is part-time and has a job that requires more of his or her time, the instructor should be willing to make limited concessions regarding assignments, etc.
Frances,
You may try having students record their messages or their comments regarding a discussion. You could use Jing or some other type of recording program that will allow students to express themselves.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Harold,
I find that "listening" in the online environment is more difficult for me than in the face-to-face environment. Since the students mostly respond by typing, it is difficult to understand the tone, etc. But I do agree that listening is still an essential element for online classes as well as face-to-face classes.
Margaret,
Great post! You make such a good point. It is important to create the unique educational moment with students and that can be done regardless of delivery!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have found that an important part of being an educator is being a good listener. In the online environment that may translate to: a good reader.
Many students do not have support at home with a listener present. The payoffs I have received from listening and responding to individual learners has been great. By listening well(or responding to online communication)to an online learner, you can create a unique educational moment that will benefit the student in a personal way, and make the educational process so much more unique and rewarding.
Billie,
What a great use of technology to stay connected in a personal way. It works great in an f2f course too. Great answer!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
in my class, I have a personal journal due each week between the student and the instructor, and most weeks they have a research log to work through. I comment personally to each journal entry asking questions or making constructive comments. I try to put a positive note to each response. The grade is broken down using the rubric embedded into the class. I also grade and return all logs with comments and the grade breakdown. I reach out to students through email who are behind in the class. I will often hear back that a student was ill. After that first time, many of the students will email me first to let me know why assignments will be late. When you take those few extra moments, it pays off in surprising ways.
Alison,
That is a great technique. I actually create groups that have responsibility to teach the content, record a video and lead the discussion. It took me a while to perfect it but it works.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Debra,
Agreed. I actually had a general db that was called "The not so dumb question area" It really worked!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have been having my students volunteer to try to teach parts of the course...I have been amazed by how many students are willing to do this, seems to make them take ownership of the class.
Students can start out intimidated to ask questions and will start a question with, "This may be a dumb questions, but..." It's essential to let them know that there are no dumb questions. The more receptive you are to all questions, the more engaged the students become. Let them know their suggestions and opinions matter to you.
Patricia,
How do you feel about using phones?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think each student should receive at least one email message for each unit. I send out an invitation to the chat session to the entire class each week.
I also believe that each student should receive a personal communication directly from me at least a couple of times.
I have recently added a personal communication to the students doing well. This is just to let them know that I recognize their work in addition to the grade.
Kim,
You are RIGHT! I have started using these techniques in a face to face environment also. We do need to understand their comfort zones!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I totally agree!
I have also found that some students who are taking online classes really never want to "talk" to the instructor and are OK with chatting via instant messaging, e-mail, or text messaging. I hold online office hours as I teach accounting courses and most of my online students would rather instant message me a question rather than ask it over the phone. Instructors also need to understand and be able to mentor and tutor their students too, if needed.
Kim
Krystal,
Great options. Do you use a general area where students can answer students' questions?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In one online platform I have used, there is an open area for questions called the "faculty office" where students can ask general questions. Students are also often encouraged to email about questions of a more personal nature.
Dale,
You are right. The instructor is so many times the authoritative person when he/she needs to simply be a facilitator of the learning environment. Being open is essential. Thank you.
