I disagree. There must be more interaction and guidance on-line vs. a tradtional setting. Meeting an instructor for the first time in a classroom setting it is fairly easy to see how the term will go within the first few weeks. As a student the physical presence of an instructor cannot be judged. In fact some of my best instructors which I learned from were those who gave me insight into looking at things differently, In one sentence a good instructor can explain a topic in a tradtional or on-line setting concisely so everyone understasnds the material.
Tom,
Well said.
Thank you for your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I think the key to the answer here is the use of the word "responsibilities." I can teach a class in the classroom and the same class online. If you look at the syllabus, the learning objectives are the same, the proposed outcomes the same. How those are achieved is the key. The responsibilities, to some degree, may be spelled out for both classroom and online learning. However, they can differ significantly in their execution (ex: time constraints for assignments, return time for examinations, types of discussions, appropriate feedback on discussion items, etc.) So I think on the surface the two courses may look the same. But as an instructor the way I assist the student learner in achieving the objectives may differ remarkably, much of it due to the behaviors I need to employ in a given situation, whether classroom or online.
Quiana,
There are many of the same attributes in each situation, as she stated. There are definitely conflicts in both settings that can be very difficult. Please help me to better understand your position by elaborating on the specific item with which you disagree. Thanks so much.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I disagree because it can be the same in each situation, whether traditional or non traditional. I have found conflict in both settings and they were both difficult.
Q
Patricia,
Well said. Keep your eyes on the prize - learning outcomes. All other 'responsibilities' are mostly logistics toward accomplishing this responsibility. Nice job.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
The responsibility is the same but the process is different. Obviously learning outcomes is the most important goal of any course, teaching online just requires different strategies in order to get to the same goal. While traditional settings may be more suitable for a student who requires face-to-face contact, the online learning course allows for more flexibility when juggling various factors in life and may prove extremely beneficial for some students. Teaching is teaching, whatever form it takes. As a facilitator/professor you simply have to adjust your methods in order to reach all students.
Hello Nick,
I thank you for your dissenting opinion. It is a basis for many advancements in science, education and other disciplines. I agree that the online instructor often has to "step it up a little' to fulfill the instructional responsibilities in the online setting that may take less time/effort in the f2f setting. Would be able to identify specific teacher responsibilities for online that extend beyond those of the traditional classroom teacher. Thank you again for your valuable contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Dr. V.,
I disagree. I feel an online teacher has to step it up a little.
I feel you get more satisfaction when the students are satisfied with the way they have been taught. If this has happened, it shows you have fulfilled your responsibilties without having the face to face meeting in a traditional classroom setting.
Nick Pasquarello
Jerry,
The non-verbal communications are, indeed, an overwhelmingly significant advantage of the f2f instructional setting. Excellent point. Do you find any individual components of online classrooms that may actually have a pedagogical advantage over f2f?
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Teaching an online course more than likely translates to a little more work than the traditional classroom setting. Body language is a primary method for communication, and having students use "netiquette" is helpful, but not a complete solution. The bottom line is that online instructors will always have many obstacles to overcome in order to have the same effective outcomes.
Mark,
Very good, I agree. In your opinion, what are some of preparation methods that are most different? Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
The responsibilities are the same. To deliver quality instruction to the students. This method of delivery is different therefore some of the preparation methods or techiniques may differ but the responsibilites are the same.
Hello Jeremy,
I am very sorry to hear of your wife's experience. My experience and conversations with many on these forums indicate that more schools are implementing standards like the Colorado Technical University model you mentioned. While there are still many institutions that have not yet engaged the more rigorous instructor requirements, the industry as a whole seems to be moving in that direction. I think if the instructors who desire this trend will continue to replace those who do not, then online education will continue to move toward the higher quality that students deserve. Thank you, again, for your contribution.
I concur completely. Instructors, unfortunately, do not have to be subject matter experts in their field in an online environment and in reality, can be absolutely non-existent in the classroom. My wife is taking online courses now through American Military University and her instructors really don't seem to exist. No feedback is provided upon grading and rarely are emails answered. I also have a degree through AMU and experienced the same type of behavior from instructors. I currently work for Colorado Technical University and am impressed by the rules they impose on their instructors to be vigilant and active during their course. Instructors for the most part can simply sit idle, grade papers, provide no feedback, and be absent through their entire course and still receive a paycheck. What does this do for the student? It gives them a false sense of hope about education and makes it hard for the instructors that actually take their teaching job seriously.
Gilbert,
Fair enough, there are many situations with many circumstances to compare/contrast. Good points. Thank you for contributing your insights.
Again, I would submit that it depends on the situation. A prepared, motivated teacher with an asynchronous class makes his own schedule, can play with his kids all day long, and respond to his students in his pajamas. An equally prepared, equally motivated teacher in a conventional classroom does not have that option. I would concur that an online teacher provides more individual student contact than a conventional teacher would but that is a trade-off.
Hi Gilbert,
Very true.
I was really asking your thoughts on comparably seasoned teachers within each setting - apples to apples, so to speak. Is online teaching significantly more (or less) effort than f2f, based on your experience?
That really depends on the situation. An inexperienced teacher delivering a new lesson in a conventional classroom is probably exerting a greater level of effort than a seasoned teacher delivering a lesson he has already done many times online.
Gilbert,
Well stated. Would you say the effort to fulfill the same responsibilities is greater or lesser in the online classroom?
