Heather,
I am not sure I follow you completely with your statement. Can you be more specific in the context of your post? I would agree that expectations continually evolve, but so should our courses and course content even if we are staying current in our fields.
Herbert Brown III
Milka,
How the student will interpret the materials how? Body language is important, but if you are just trying to determine if the students understand course expectations, then you can accomplish that through a short quiz of the syllabus and expectations. Well created assignments, discussion posts, and other interactions can provide a lot of insight on our students. You can always hold a LIVE face to face session with something like Skype or Google Hangouts.
Herbert Brown III
Jerry,
I like how you included the importance of the students feeling like they are a valued individual in the course and not just a number, as well as the fact that we should have expectations for our students, but they should have expectations for us as well.
Herbert Brown III
At some point, expectations have to evolve. The challenge often is that the environment stays the same.
It is difficult to decipher how the student will interpret the information since there is no way to read the body language of the student once the information is relayed.
What do you feel are important elements of a faculty expectations statement that can help set the appropriate expectations for learners in your online course?
- Students need to know they are valued -first as a person, then as a student. We need to see them as such - and not as a number. We can do this by noting what our expectations are from each student and letting them know what they can expect from us. I do this in all the schools where I teach; it helps not only set a professional tone, but also the ever-so-important boundaries relevant to any relationship; students need to know they will be held responsible - as I will as their teacher.
- JV
Vince,
When you say all online schools do you mean for profit, completely online schools? Many traditional universities also offer completely online programs and may or may not have the same format you suggest. My university for instance allows me to do anything I want and is not micromanaged by anyone. Even in the for-profit schools I see substantial differences in the way they have them set up. Overall it is important to make sure we always clearly articulate student and instructor expectations in a course. The clearer they are at the beginning, the less issues and questions you have later in the course.
Herbert Brown III
Herbert,
I have found that all online schools seem to be standardized. In other words, they are all pretty much alike and do the same things such as have a faculty expectations statement. The main component of this I think is to let the students know how long you have to reply to e-mails. Otherwise, they want an instant response to one.
Sincerely,
Vince
Emily ,
Very nice. I like how you include expectations for you as well as the students. I believe that is important. Students should have some expectations for us and our part in the course.
Herbert Brown III
Ty,
Do you adjust their grade for each resubmit, or can they just turn in a very minimal assignment every time get feedback and go fix it to ensure an A on the assignment and double your workload on grading etc.? How is your policy written? Is there a downside to allowing unlimited resubmits?
Herbert Brown III
Ty,
So Ty, if they won't get an A on everything, how do you as in instructor inform them what they should expect to get and how they can earn an A on every assignment if they work at it?
Herbert Brown III
Hi Everyone,
Faculty expectations are important! In all of my classes I send out an email or have a welcome letter explaining what students can expect from me but also what I expect from them.
My expectations range from quality of work, my late policy, how long they will have to wait before I get back to them (generally 24 hours), when their grades will be returned, and info on format such as APA, recycling papers, etc. I also let them know where and when I can be reached and that I am here for them to succeed!
Best,
Emily
They are allowed to resubmit as much as they want, however I for CEC teach short term class and the students usually only have the patience to resubmit an assignment one time at the most.
- Ty
Students always have expectations, usually they are different from what the course involves. The best instructors understand how to communicate well with students.
An example would be that students may expect they will get an A on every assignment.
- Ty
Great point and we do that.
Penelope,
Communication is paramount. If you can put many of the important course expectations in writing in the syllabus or similar location you can head off many of the same questions throughout the course.
Herbert Brown III
Desiree,
Very nice and warm and welcoming statement.
Herbert Brown III
Ty,
Do you believe that students should have expectations for their instructors and the instructors responsibilities in the course? What might those look like?
Herbert Brown III
Ty,
Do you give them endless resubmits? If you let them resubmit everything what is to keep the students from turning in absolute junk the first time (to get feedback and an extension) and then resubmit for the best grade?
Herbert Brown III
Communication, communication, communication. Being attentive to your students needs by replying to emails in a timely manner and any other forms of communication like google voice will put them at ease knowing you are there to support them.
