Hello –
The three things that I believe are most important to consider are as follows:
1 - Students need a clear understanding of where to find the necessary information to successfully complete the course. This includes: the syllabus, the assignments, the resources, technology that will be used for the class, and how to communicate with both peers and the instructor.
2 - Motivating students is very important in an online class. Most students begin with a lot of motivation, and it is necessary to keep that motivation high, especially if a student begins to feel lost in the online environment, or they begin to believe that they just cannot “do itâ€.
3 - Communication is essential in an online class. As an instructor, I need to make full use of the technology available – Live chats, emails, discussion boards, announcements, instant messaging, etc. are all tools that can be used in order to share information with the students. We also need to realize the importance of including students so they feel like they are actually participating in the class – we can do this through the DBs and the live chats. I have found that the more a student participates, the better they tend to do in the class.
Thank you,
Dawn
Kenneth,
Great list. It is important to know what we are going to teach, communicate that to the students, and follow through with evaluation. Thanks for your input.
The three most important considerations are:
1) Have I presented a clear description of the purpose and expectations for the course?
2) Have I clearly communicated how we all will communicate in class under various circumstances?
3) Making sure that I have metrics to evaluate the progress each student is making in terms of their scaffolding process
AJAY,
Right on. The facilitator is the key element to how the course is delivered and how students learn. Thanks for your input.
Three important thing facilitator needs to take
1.Facilitator should clearly state what is expected from students and what assignments are to be done by making dynamic syllabus.
2. Facilitator should make his presence felt by constantly [articipating and communicating with students .
3. Facilitator should provide timely and encouraging feedback.
Ajay
Brion and Oneyma,
Visibility is important. It's hard for first time teachers in the online environment to grasp this sometimes. Thanks for bringing it up.
Brion & Alysha,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Communication is the key in so many areas of teaching.
Thanks again.
Brion.,
Yes, building rapport leads to the development of a community of learners in your course. This is very important. The students need to know the expectations, how to learn together and how to achieve the learning outcomes.
Hello Oneyma,
Good point about visibility. I think that it is critical that instructors stay visible on the boards and in the classroom. When students begin to infer that the instructor does not care and is not invested in the class- it goes down hill from there. Brion.
Hello Alysha,
Yes, I agree, I think that technology can be key to a classroom environment- as well as forming good communication. This is especially important in group work- where an instructor definitely needs to closely monitor the interaction of group members. Brion.
Hello all,
I believe that the three important factors to consider when teaching an online course are: 1)Making expectations clear, 2) establishing a Rapport with students, 3) Being consistent.
Perhaps nothing is more important to a class than having clear expectations. When students do not know what is expected of them- this can lead to unnecessary stress, worry, and even negativity. I think that instructors can avoid a great deal of stress by simply making it clear what is expected on papers, discussion boards, etc.
Online the same lines, it is critical to have a Rapport with students in my opinion. If students understand that you are a professional who has expectations- yet, does want to see them succeed, I think that it improves the entire class dynamic. The first two that I mentioned rely a great deal on consistency. Expectations are only successful when the instructor enforces them consistently.
Brion.
Virginia,
Thanks for your input. Differentiating instruction is a word you hear a lot in education. We have to move our students higher and higher through the scaffolding of learning.
Paula,
Excellent list. We do need to provide that good feedback to help students improve. Communication is the key in every classroom. Thank you.
The Federal Government did a study about online learning. The first thing they found was that teaching metacognitive skills (executive processes) was important. The second was scaffolding which they called differentiating instruction. I accelerate my high functioning students and provide more support for those who are struggling.
The three that I would consider are:
1) Assumptions - making no assumptions about the students or the knowledge they possess. Sometimes we tend to think that as college age students that they should know more than some of them do but we have to understand that each student is unique and they have been given different opportunities.
2) Communication - I have found that students respond to positive communication and they welcome the outreach we provide them. It makes a big difference in how they feel about themselves and the class.
3) Feedback - Students want to know how they are doing and they are concerned about their grades. I often return assignments to them for them to correct because they may have misunderstood the directions or they need to correct their essays. This gives them an opportunity to do better the next time.
Paula
Kimberly,
I like you connection to the statement "I can!". This is very important. Posting your expectations and discussion board examples is an excellent way to help students further understand the course expectations. Thanks again for your input.
Albert,
We have many challenges in any classroom environment. Thanks for your input.
I believe the three most important things to consider are:
1) Providing clear instruction - At the start of a new class, I post my expectation regarding Essays and Discussion Questions in the Announcement and Course Question threads. Of course after the grading the first weeks Essays, I am able to see who did not read my instructions. Many will reply that they did not know the essay had to be "double spaced, a cover page had to attached,etc". I then respond that it is important that they read my Announcements because I offer important information that can affect their grade. The student must be aware of what is expected from the instructor, class, and school.
2) Keep students on task - Each week is a new discussion question and essay. The Road Map allows them to read and confirm what is due for each week.
3) Offer encouragement, praise, and constructive criticism - Many students communicate that he or she does not have any positive role models in their lives. Hearing a kind, uplifting, and sincere word of praise from someone can make a difference in their attitude. The student might have self doubt but if they know someone is sincere and offers encouragement or constructive criticism to make them do better, their outlook will change from "I Can't...to.... I Can".
This issue is even more difficult in a traditional class room where the you are "facing" the student in real time.
Onyema,
Right on. As the students all learn differently, we must ensure the connection between faculty-student-content. Being present to them and helping them understand the expectations is key. Nice job.
