Preparing students for an online class
Ever since I have been involved in online learning, I have found there is a misconception by some students that online learning is easy. In addition, some students are not prepared for the amount of work involved in an online class.
So, as the instructor, how do you prepare a student who is taking an online class for the first time?
Lydia - I agree. Going to school online involves extra focus. To succeed, students need to be very organized both in their thinking and time management skills!
Mark McMullen
I inform my students that working on a degree - online or onsite, is very difficult. You have to be dedicated and focus in both situations. However, online you are not present in a physical classroom. So, you need to have to make an extra effort. I have attended both situations and find that the online environment as challenging if not more challenging because of that element.
You are not being annoying Deborah, you are showing your students that you care about their success (although I agree that some of them may think it is annoying :-)).
I would also encourage you to set deadlines for your students and make it clear they cannot turn in assignments late unless there is mitigating circumstances that they have talked to you about. I have found that to be very helpful in getting the students to stay on task. Putting it off until the very end of the class is never good for the student or the teacher!
Time flies in accelerated courses. I encourage students to print the task list. Read all the tasks. Check to see if the final assignment is a culmination of the others and if it is to add to it as they go. Our students have an orientation, as I suspect maybe all of them do, so this helps some but until they get into class they really don’t understand. Those that come to chat or check the archives get a lot of help but many obviously don’t. I think I will try using more emails to try to get these students to connect.
I already email them expectations at the beginning just before class starts. I am going to monitor attendance more closely and make sure I am annoying those that aren’t doing anything. This session I have some that are turning in all their work at the end. They miss so much this way. I have to realize I can’t help those that don’t want to be helped. By reaching out more, though, I will find the ones that do want help and maybe don’t know what to do.
Preparing for an online course first comes with knowledge of the online environment. I begin by telling the student that there will be lots of work but if you log in everyday and stay on top of your assignments you will be fine. Set a schedule for yourself and try to stick with it. Its all about time manangement.
Since I teach introductory courses with first session students, I get this response all the time! Students feel it is easier and can pass with flying colors with little effort because they are online. I normally start all my classes with an outline of my course expectations. Once they hear what I expect from them, they understand that this is no longer a “free ride” to an A. I do have high expectations for my students, and I tell them that all the time. Research has shown the higher the expectations you have for students the better they perform. It’s not all just about what or how you teach. I don’t assume that my students will perform lower than my expectations; in fact I believe they possess the skills and abilities needed they just need to learn how to use them. I say high expectations, not to mean that they should be “perfect” but at a reasonable level. And more so that they understand what it means to do work at the “college level”. Most of my students do understand and realize that they will need to work hard to meet my expectations. Best of all they realize that when I challenge them to do their best, it helps them to really understand the material and retain it.
Although online learning has been around now for awhile, it is still relatively new if you compare it to traditional on-campus “brick and mortar” schools. So, I think the misconception that it is “easy” taking classes online can get confused with the convenience and flexibility that online schooling offers. I tell students the “quality” of online education is the same if not better than a class you will take “on-campus” and this is coming from someone who has done all their schooling with “on-campus” schools. Since online you are predominantly writing vs. actually speaking or presenting information, I think it takes much more thought and critical thinking. You have to do research and reflect on your experiences to help support your work on papers. This all requires much more thought in many classes on-campus where much of the curriculum is not based on authentic assessment. Let’s face it, most of us don’t retain the information we were tested on in Chemistry class, but we do remember parts of what we learned in Psychology class. I think that is where much of the difference lies and most students in my classes realize what a mistake they made, in thinking online-classes would be a breeze.
It sounds like you are very upfront with your students when you are preparing them to be successful in your class Mark. Do you have students that struggle with knowing the technology that is needed to be successful? If so, how do you deal with those issues?
Actually, I have received little feedback from students re: my Facebook page. I have received positive comments from students re: my personal bio page that appears in the Faculty Information file of the Virtual Classroom!
Professor Mark
I basically tell students that the key to success in online learning is to keep current with readings and assignment deadlines, to actively participate in class discussions and to communicate and check into the Main Classroom and Small Group Discussion Boards regularly.
I also stress organization and time management as two keys to online learning success. I also tell students to never hesitate to call upon Tech Support for any question at all!
Mark McMullen
I agree that some students make the mistake of thinking that an online class is somehow easier than a residential class. Some students learn that lesson the hard way!
In terms of making sure students read the material, have you tried asking discussion questions that are specifically pulled from the textbook?
I would like some advice on getting students to read their materials. I think that several campus based students take online classes because they think it will be easier. One of the things I notice is that they fail to read the materials for each module. This causes the students frustration and hurts retention. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I encourage you to give the facebook idea a try and see how it works for you. Thanks for the comments Tammy.
I too, have heard the students discussing the supposed "ease" of on-line, and I have heard other students correct them. Basically, the ones that have enrolled for "ease" have had a real shock and don't mind informing others that are tempted to use the same approach. However, students that are serious about their education appreciate opportunities that are presented that open avenues for them to achieve their goal - an education. I agree that the prep/orientation class for online students is essential, and I really like the 'facebook' page idea. Thanks for sharing all the good ideas.
I agree that there is a misconception about the "ease" of online courses. Students believe it will be easier to complete the course in fewer weeks, than having to actually attend the class on campus. I believe that a prep/orientation class for online students is essential. It is easy to assume that most people are computer savvy these days, but that is not always the case. We have several students at our institution that have trouble checking their emails or simply "googling" on the computer. I believe the prep/orientation course will better prepare students for what is to come in their online course. If a student is well prepared on how to navigate through the system, then it will help lessen frustrations and also help with retention issues.
I think the 'facebook' page is a great idea. Most of our students have a facebook account and could easily access the class page. It would help them to discuss certain issues they are having with the course.
Very thorough and well thought out response Nancy. Setting the stage the first day of class is very important, including the expectations that make students aware that taking an online class isn't easier than the residential class.
I also totally agree with your observation. There is a definite misconception that online courses are easier.
I prepare my online students the same way I prepare my face-to-face students. In the classroom setting, most of my students are first semester college freshman. This is not always the case with my online students, as they are not required to take my course (online) during their first semester. I think the fear of the unknown harbored by my college "newbies" is on equal footing as my more experienced students who take my course online, thinking it will be easier. The students in both settings start out on equal footing.
I initiate first-day-of-class contact with my online students, and both online and classroom students walk out of that first class with an assignment. Neither setting uses the first class to simply "go over the syllabus, etc.". I clearly explain (either verbally or online) the expectations of the course, along with the timelines, so they are very clear on what I expect. (Or course, I deliver this information with a great deal of charm, grace, and humor!) I also clearly explain what they can expect from me in regards to support, office hours, etc. I make it very clear in both settings if the students are giving me their utmost best and completing all assignments on time, and to the best of their ability, it is virtually impossible to fail my class. I deliver on this statement with constant one-one-one interaction with my students that is consistent throughout the course. Sometimes that means hunting them down on campus, or through e-mail and telephone calls.
My initial in-your-face, where-have-you-been, how-are-you-doing approach at the start of the course, quickly disperses any fearful misgivings about my class my newbies may have AND quickly displaces the myth that taking my class online is easier.
Wow, four days is an intense class! Yes, the facebook suggestion is a good one. I hope it works well with your class.
This notion of using an interactive mass communications resource like Facebook is inspired. I teach a conventional classroom course in one four-day segment and the volume of material is intense and usually totally unfamiliar to the students. In the classroom, as you would expect, some of the students will "get" a concept and some will lag. Frequently it is another student that has a grasp of this concept that can present an analogy or idea in a way that makes it click for the rest of the class.
My students are in the 20 to 30 year old bracket and they are all really conversant with web-based communication vehicles like Facebook.
Having a familiar forum where the students can openly discuss what has been presented in the classroom will make the total experience more beneficial, in as much as the students who need elaboration can get it not only from me but also from the other students who have a better understanding. This will take up less class time in review and allow us to move forward smoothly with new material.
Thanks for the tip.
That is a great piece of advice for your students Kalpana. Some students new to online learning struggle with the self discipline needed to be successful.
