Lack of face-to-face interaction in online classes
Just curious about the interaction with students who you are never face-to-face with. I find this to be one of the best parts about teaching. How difficult is it to connect through technology?
Edward,
This combined approach with video and graphics is currently indicated as one of the better techniques for online classes. There are many ways these two broad categories are being combined. The PowerPoint and lecture is readily available to most online instructional environments. Good going. Thanks.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
If I personally was designing a course, I would prefer to use a combination of video and graphics (traditional online presentations).
I would think that a combination of graphics (such as Powerpoint presentations) to outline the subject, as well as a video (or at least audio) lecture would be my favored approach.
That way, students who learn better through differing learning modalities would have the best possible chance of success.
Jenson,
The videos (and even photos) are good ways to make it more personal. Psychology research indicates that even newborns get emotional comfort from the form of a human face, indicating the visual effect probably has a positive psychological impact. As we increase this mode of communication, I expect we will find ways to enhance the personalization.
Any other insights from the group?
It was weird at first to simply talk to my computer in hopes that people are listening across the country. Now, I'm more comfortable with the thought that another people can view me and I'm not too worried about viewing them. I share a video feed of myself.
I agree. I find that students have private access to the instructor via email provides them with a sense of security in divulging information. This can be very helpful when trying to help students by learning their needs and any issues which may hinder their learning.
Hi John, I don't know if there are but we use Adobe Connect as a separate application to be able to connect with are learners using video and audio. Tina
I haven't taught an online course yet and I'm worried about the lack of face time with the students. Are there any CMSs out there where you can use video chat with the students?
I have to teach a live class on-line twice a week. During those live sessions if the students have any questions, they would need to ask me through a chat box. Of course, the students have to be in the virtual classroom in order to do that. We record our sessions so the students can hear the lecture at any time. I like the live chat during class because it really helps me feel connected to the students and they feel connected to me as well as to each other. I like that environment so the students know that I am a "real" person. They can hear me and I can answer their questions live.
I find that the writing styles of the students are lacking in some cases. This is my first time as an instructor on-line or otherwise and I am enjoying the on-line experience. My classes are at the 100 level so the students are basically freshman coming in. The writing is difficult in some cases, but I compensate for that by asking them questions to clarify what they are talking about on the discussion board. This seems to help. My college years were in a "brick and mortar" setting, so I am finding the on-line experience to be different, challenging, but very fun!
Our sessions are 5 weeks in length as well. In some ways, it would be nice if it was longer so I can get to know the students better. They are entertaining and keep me on my toes.
It is very difficult for someone who is used to their "audience". I make the connection when they join me in the on-line Chats each week.
I am in my 2nd year of teaching online classes and still find the lack of face-to-face interaction extremely frustrating. Some students seem to find comfort in being hidden, unavailable and unaccountable. I am spending quite a bit of time with individual emails to students with the hope of drawing them out. This is having some impact but not as much as I desire. As of now I have no training in using "chat rooms", "white board" and other interactive venues. If I could learn how to use those resources, I think that my effectiveness would grow greatly. (I am chronologically mature and technologically limited!!)
I have taught my first online course which only last 5 and a half weeks. I find this aspect challenging as well as I rely heavily on informal student feedback such as body language and facial gestures to gauge my instructional effectiveness. This piece is missing in a virtual classroom and sometimes the written communication can be misconstrued. I am hoping as I teach more classes that this will get easier for me. However, because of the short length of the class, I am unsure if this issue will ever really get resolved. Unlike, others who say they feel they get to know their students better because the student's feel more able to be candidate about themselves, I did not experience that...probably because of the short length of the course. I welcome any insights you learn and are willing to share as you gain more experience.
I find that it is easier to get to know online students. I think this is because they are more apt to be open and honest that traditional face-to-face students.
It certainly isn't easy but it does have an advantage and that it is faceless so there are no preconceived notions or ideas. It makes my grading completely without prejudice in that I only know the student by what they write.
I have found that the online students I teach truly utilize the technology resources to interact with myself and their fellow students. Many students use our school's Facebook page to take in-class discussions further. One of my colleagues suggested that I use Skype to conduct face to face interactions with my students as well. I also frequently chat online with my students in our classroom to answer any personal questions they may have.
I love teaching online and I believe it truly works for those who invest themselves in the technology resources that are available.
When I first started teaching online I had already been teaching F2F for 15 years. The lack of proximity was a bit disturbing to me. The way I found to work around that was through chat rooms and frequent individual emails/text messages. Occasionally I do get to meet my online students if they are from our campus or one that is very close.
The technology has gotten much better. There are all types of media methods that allow the instructor to be much more interactive. I am actually amazed at how much is out there. I recall taking an online course back in 2001 and it was using a BlackBoard interface, very chat room like with different threads. Now, there are software options that truly offer customization and are very easy to use.
Hi Erik,
I must admit that I was a little hesitant with the whole online education thing at first. However, once I started teaching a few years ago and began participating in a lot of online training programs, the concept began to grow on me. With that said, I do not think that it is that difficult to connect with students after a couple of live lectures are held. It gives them time to adjust to your teaching style and delivery method. It also helps to teach in a platform that allows space for both synchronous and asynchronous communication.
Thanks, Angela. I feel more and more of a push for classes to go online which feels like a natural progression, I just worry as an instructor of visual arts that the transition may be a bit more complicated.
