Changing from traditional school to teaching online
I have previously taught at ground schools, but never online until recently. I have now been teaching online for almost a year, but am still learning how to be an effective online teacher. Could you please share some of your most successful strategies you use when teaching online?
Lauretta,
I also try to make myself as visible and available to the students as possible. I do, however, try to set some basic boundaries around that communication such as when to expect a return message, etc. It is not fair for the instructor not to have a life either and always be interrupted. I believe it is about finding a nice balance.
Herbert Brown III
Tracy,
My best strategy is to always make myself visible and available as much as I can, either on the Discussion Board, Chat Room, Email, Cell Phone, Instant Messaging etc. I found out that this takes away some of the online environment phobia or anxiety from especially new students. I've been teaching now for about 14 years and 10 of those were onground. I love online environment much more than onground. So have fun!
Lauretta.
Brian,
Yes, the online classroom offers a robust 'continuous improvement' opportunity.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Delevoping the best strategy ocurs over time. i've been teaching online for almost two years and still update my materials regularly. While my students learn from me, I also learn from my students that help me provide better examples for topics. For example, some students learn better with a chat where they can hear the example and visualize the concept. Other students (like me) are visual and need to see a graph or table to grasp the topics. Offering multiple methods is the best way to appeal to the learning style of more students.
Kozet,
Enjoy the adventure! It can be fun.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
In this world of technology, schools are moving toward more online courses. I'm preparing myself to step into the online teacher role which offers challenges. Mainly with technology!!
Traci,
There are many books on multiple strategies and components of those strategies. One foundational component that will get you off to a good start is that "clear and reasonable expectations/communications must be established between student and teacher." Most everything flows from this.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
