Challenges of virtual verses face to face/on-ground
Initially, when I first began teaching via an on-line class, I struggled with my own personal feeling that I truly missed the face to face contact that teaching on-ground affords. While I am adapting, I still sometimes struggle and worry that I am not only effectively communicating with my students, but establishing a rapport as well. Do others struggle with this, not only in terms of being Instructors, but students as well? How do you work through this issue?
Agnes,
Good for you. Have you thought of articulating the strategies you do to become more intuitive? This shared knowledge is so valuable. So many faculty can't see there be any value regarding online learning. You are destroying that myth. Kudos to you.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think we need to be even more creative when teaching online. The goal is to compensate the lack of face to face contact, as well as non-verbal cues.
However, I think that after some time of teaching online, I have become more intuitive about students who lack comprehension.
There are signs telling us students are struggling...other than the obvious low quality work.
Christopher,
I admire you for working on different strategies. You also want to make sure that students understand they have a role in keeping "plugged in" in the class. I am thinking. . . . maybe that is the first discussion, about communication and what to do when overwhelmed.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Simone,
Yes, all good/great instructors struggle with this. We are so use to taking cues from the class regarding learning. The challenge for you will be to determine online cues students use when they are struggling or don't understand. You may want to develop a system of communication using students input to determine those online cues.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have also struggled with this issue during my 14 years of teaching. The best method I have learned is to create multiple methods of communication. Use of email, synchronous chat, audio, webcam, etc. can all come together and compensate for a lack of f2f interaction. Phone conferencing is also a great way to keep communication alive between individuals.
