Patrice,
Very nice outreach. Your availability to her and your insterest in her success comes through nicely. Thank you for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Mara,
These are all very good possibilities. Excellent reflection on the situation. Thank you.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Dear Learner 1, After reading through the discussion threads, it seems to me that you are feeling overwhelmed in this course. I am here to guide you through each assignment, please feel free to instant message me or email me at any time. If you would like a personal conference, we can set up a time and place to meet by phone or by chat session. Please note that I am here to help you get through this program. I will do all that I can to help you to achieve your dream.
Sincerely,
Professor Patrice
Donald,
Very good perspective about the overall class. Thank you for sharing that insight.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
According to what we learned in this module, Learner 1 is probably a quiet learner. In my opinion, the best way to deal with this person is to provide he or she with individual attention. Although it is difficult to increase the self-esteem of any given individual, I do believe that some encouragement is probably necessary and desirable. It is very important to ensure that other learners do not become less self-assured because of Learner 1.
It sounds like this student may be a "Quiet learner", one who lacks confidence in his or her abilities. This student, rather than providing substantive answers to the assignment or comments on work by other students, instead focuses on what he sees as his own shortcomings.
A suggested strategy for such a student is to try to reassure him by pointing out good points in his work and getting him to expand on these points to other students. For example, the instructor might pick out a point from his own post and ask him to expand on it, or better yet, ask others to comment on it. Another strategy is to review the student's biography or other postings and have the student bring his own experiences into the class. If a student works, for example, then ask about situations on the job related to the assignment.
James,
Your statement to point out "that the discussion is not looking to solicit the same ideas from each student" is excellent. Thank you for sharing your insight.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
It would appear that Learner 1 needs to real encouragement and that he/she is anticipating failure which often itself ends up being the cause of failure.
One postive approach to take is to look at some of the specific posts. For example, regarding the response to learner 4 you could mention that the discussion is not looking to solicit the same ideas from each student. It is not a problem that learner 1 did not have the same thoughts as learner 4. Learner 1 probably does have some ideas that others would not, and he/she should be encouraged to share those.
Perry ,
I like your intial establishment of the 'comfortable tone' before implementing your very thorough procedure. Nicely done.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Samia,
You have identified some very key points. Nicely done.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
David,
Defining the problem accurately is a great first step.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Some positive re-enforcement is always in order. There are a number of reasons why someone may feel as L1 does. A quick phone call or email to figure out what the actual problem is would be in order. The items described above are symptoms of the real problem. Once the actual problem is identified corrections can be implemented.
Gayle, I do like your post and response to this question. I offered to communicate both privately for the same reasons as stated by you; however, I felt that there was need to post to the discussion as well assuring all the learners of my availability to explain and assist and offer other resources to make their course learning journey a less stressful albeit a successful one.
Samia
I would reach out to learner #1 both privately via e-mail and on the Discussion Board. The message would be worded differently in each venue; however, in both instances, I would indicate an interest in finding the challenging areas and offer assistance assuring one and all that I am there to help. Support and motivation are a must in both forms of communication.
Samia
Good day,
Louis and Samantha, I want to add feedback to this thread based on the positive value of extending detailed help to students! I think you are correct that some students are not realistic about the importance of planning to complete their assignments. Some students do not realize that college or university courses online involve being dedicated with specific methods to have time for reading, posting, researching, and completing other assignments. I am glad you noted the importance of this occurrence. I also noted that I would offer a telephone appointment. The reason is that I want to be certain to exhaust every source or tool available for students to improve, which can foster positive course environments!
Thank you, Perry Spann
Good day,
The strategies I would use are to:
Send Learner 1 an email that is positive and professional in content to address any areas of care regarding sources for support, or how to improve in the course. Ask the student what help is needed. Establish a comfortable tone.
Include to Learner 1 in the email that the main discussion board forums are not for personal notations or opinions regarding class grades, assignments, or statuses and the reasons why based on the class materials.
Include to Learner 1 in an email to remain focused solely on the topic of lessons in main discussion board forums.
Include to Learner 1 in an email the value of adding substantial feedback.
Include to Learner 1 in an email that the class materials detail what substantial feedback is with examples.
Include to Learner 1 in am email that I gladly await a reply to confirm understanding suggestions I offered for course improvement based on using rubrics, past and present course feedback, or supplemental resources as guidance.
Include a reminder that I am available to be of help via a telephone. appointment.
I would also post a message in the main discussion board forum where Learn 1 sent message to recall that posts should be relative to the discussion thread content only and the reasoning.
Thank you, Perry Spann
James,
Very good comprehensive solution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I would email learners 1 and 3 and counsel either via e-mails or chats. I would do my best to encourage them to stay in the class and give them strategies and approaches they can use to be successful. I have to do this with several students every term.
The second learer I would try to get them to particpate in a more engaing fashion by asking them what their thought is on the topic at hand. I would do this in the discussion board.
Rick,
Excellent use of positive reinforcement, empathy and personal exchange. Very nicely done.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Robert,
Very good classroom management style. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
