Perry,
Engaging the students in the class and content is essential. You ask good questions. Thanks.
In teaching online the three biggest consierations will be:
1. I need to have expectations posted so the students will see them when they enter the course.
2. I need to make sure that all learning types are covered.
3. I need to make sure that the assignments cover the learning objectives.
The three things that are important.
1) How do I get the student to participate? This is a big issue in small classes
2) What am I trying to convey to the students? What are the key points I want to stress.
3) Are they getting the most out of the class? What can I do better to re-enforce the learning.
Perry
Janet,
I call my class a community of learners. We learn from each other all the time. It's true.
Janet,
A safe, engaging community of learners is what makes the classes interactive and great learning environments. Thanks for your input.
I agree and it is rewarding when you see the students reach out to each other to assist with questions etc.
Not only is it important to consider the mechanism or learning styles of the students, but it is also good to have some baseline to know what students expect from the course. Additionally, I think that students need to feel comfortable contributing to the classroom so it is important to present a welcoming environment where participation is encouraged. Finally it is important to reach those students who don't actively participate and try to pull them into the discussions.
Rich,
Correct. I set timeframes with them so that they know they will receive feedback within 24 hours. Thanks for your input.
It is critical to stay engaged constantly in an online environment. The students don't like to wait long once they send an email for feedback.
Kimberley,
I like that you ask yourself these questions. They also help others think about essential questions to ask. Thanks for your input.
The things I consider are:
Are my students understanding the material?
Are my students navigating the course with ease?
Do my students feel connected within the online environment?
After asking these questions I put in place measures that allow my students the opportunity to get help if the material is difficult and to introduce themselves to their classmates so they feel involved.
James,
An engaging atmosphere where student feel a part of the class is important. The syllabus is a big part of developing the communication with everyone. Thanks for your input.
Christopher,
I like the fact that you are making your class personal and students can develop relationships and build a community. Nice job.
It seems to me students need to have good access to a "friendly" syllabus that gives them everything they need to know to complete the course.
Secondly, students should be able to help direct the course to help it become more student centered, and they would do this by commenting on what should be done and how in terms of the way they move through the course.
Thirdly, students should find the course to be interactive...not just "read and reply" but interactive in the sense they actually partipate. What do you think?
The online class should be set with a personal introduction posting so that students can get to know one another and you get to know "where students' heads are." The types of info often shared by faculty and students include info on professional experiences, personal information such as family/friends/pets, and a photograph. Faculty also often include a note about their teaching philosophy and research projects.
Thank you,
Christopher Davis
Lawrence,
The expectations should be set and understood by all. Students should not be "surprised" but prepared. Thanks for your input.
Erina ,
Yes, we can help prepare them to become better online learners. And, the feedback should help them improve. Nice job.
1. University expectations for instructors, i.e., how many times a week the instructor should logon, etc.
2. 1. University expectations for Students, i.e., how many times a week the instructor should logon, etc.
3. Degree of difficulty of the class and how the instructor can lend their perspectives on the course.
When I teach online I need to make sure I keep students up to date on the pitfalls of the course, as well as keeping them informed on the best ways to approach a class. I need to post plenty of announcements and give detailed feedback on their assignments.
Ola,
Communicating the course expectations and making sure they know when/how to contact you is critical. The syllabus is your first opportunity to communication clearly with the students. Nice job.
