Get Your Students Hired
Well I have a personality that engages the students with my stories, expressions and watching the students expressions. I use the none verbal communication heavily. So, I will have to transition to using engaging quips via written messages or encouraging students with entertaining and challenging exercises.
Dalene,
Very well done! This is a terrific explanation of your approach. Keep up the wonderful work you do with the students.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I have enjoyed face to face exchanges with students in a physical classroom. With younger people, being the "sage on the stage" is expected (high school settings). However, with college level students, most have wonderful life experiences that they can weave into their coursework and discussion forums in the online classroom. I do not think that I had a challenge transitioning to the "guide on the side" in the virtual classroom simply because I knew that my class comprised all adults, and I was looking to benefit from their experience, and share my own.
I create ongoing discussions by asking questions whenever a student presents a scenario or an opinion, such as "why do you feel that way?" or "what experience brought you to that conclusion?" or "what did you do when thus and so happened?" I find that asking viewpoint and experience-based questions, I can provide the benefit of my own experience, and that of published "sages" and still be the "guide on the side."
RICARDO,
Well stated. The academic exchange of ideas can be a bit easier to maintain as the central focus, when the aforementioned distractions are eliminated. Very good.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I do not see a challenge per se but an opportunity to reach out to students who are intimidated by the traditional classroom. The online learning environment levels the playing field between students because it no longer matters if one is shy or outgoing, male or female, black or white, able or disabled, etc. All that matters are the ideas on the page. As the 'guide on the side' the main responsibility then is to maintain student focus on the topic at hand during the discussion forum.
Mariya,
Very good point. Engaging students by focusing on the instructional activities (as opposed to their lack of engagement) can be a very effective means. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
One of the biggest challanges that an online instructor can meet I think it will be to inspire enthusiasm among the online students. It's my experience that once students are working on an activity questions will arise naturally and the amount and "depth" of discussions pick right up. There will always be students who are reluctant to participate in discussions or who resent that an online course often requires as much or more discipline and effort as a face-to-face course, but I find that if I take time to engage them in correspondence around an activity that even some of those students find they have something they want to contribute.
Cathleen,
It does have 'rhythm' to it once you have been in it for a while, so I can see how you love it. I still have an equal affinity for the traditional and online classrooms - for different reasons, of course. The newer online environments may slowly change that for me.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Dr. V, honestly, I have taught so long online aht I think I would have more trouble now being a "sage on the stage". It has become second nature to me to be a "guide on the side'...and I prefer it! I love facilitating someone else's learning.
Sarah,
Every term each of us stuggles with this. Issuing the same message, multiple times in different formats (email, discussion board, class announcement) and referring each to the other, helps some.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
The biggest difficulty I see is with engagement...finding that one thing that will encourage the student to read my post or my email or even my announcements. I can provide them with tons of info but if they don't open it and read it, it is useless.
Hi Guillaume,
I am so glad to know of the progress you are making. Keep up the great work.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
hi David, so wonderful, this strategic help me a lot to communicate with student particularly shy and close to them self, passive on class and over active on forum, this represent my next step on create some professional relationship with my student and get more participation and interest, finally..........
Francis ,
The "time factor" of distance ed has many pros and cons. You have aptly identified one of the larger challenges for the instructor. Good post.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I have been teaching in an online environment for a couple of years now and while the difference is significant, I have rather enjoyed it. The main difference for me though, was that in a ground class, it is fairly simple to adjust to what the class is or isn't giving you. In an online environment, you may not find out about deficiencies for several days and by then it can be difficult to correct them.
Kevin,
Yes, videos have been indicated to provide some remedy to this aspect. Additionally, weekly realtime Webcam interaction seems to be a useful tool in this effort. Moving to the online arena also has the effect, on some teachers, that they hone their vacabulary skills. Probably like (in some ways) when someone loses their sight and their auditory skills are refined. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I think the biggest challenge in being a "guide on the side" would be inspiring a hard work ethic without the aid of physical cues. When I was a student, the most inspiring thing about a teacher was witnessing his or her level of enthusiasm about the subject matter, and much of that enthusiasm came from physical mannerisms and body language. With those two parameters disabled, one would have to find a way to motivate the student with words alone.
I suppose making online videos could help, but one would still have to navigate around the issue of the physical cues not being in "real time."
-Kevin Shima
Amy,
Yes, exactly right. Online requires active learning with the student activity being the center of attention for the facilitator. Quantity and quality of activities in which the student engages needs to be monitored on a continuous basis. Intervention by the instructor should be minimal, while keeping the student on the right track.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Suzanne,
Yes, many instructors feel this way. One critical factor is the facilitator's proactive approach. "Guiding" with specific instructions and helpful hints can make the difference between a smooth educational experience and confusion for some students. Prevention of disengagement is one of the biggest challenges.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I think the biggest challenge is knowing when to step in. It can be tempting to take over the discussions and integrate textual connections, media connections or further insight. However, oftentimes in student discussions, it is best to see how the conversation will play out and then add insight or a connection. Student discussions are incredibly valuable in an online environment, so an instructor needs to play a balancing act to ensure the students have an opportunity to question, connect and analyze, without having the instructor essentially hold their hands throughout the process.