Managing Learner Behaviors - 2
I will email learner 1 and explain that I feel based on their posts that they are having problems with this class. I would ask them what I can do to help them. I would then work with them to help them in any way that I could.
Consider the following posts to the discussion:
Learner 1 post to Learner 2: "I feel that this course is very difficult, and I just don't get the concept. I am trying, but I can't see me passing and I am not good at failure."
Learner 1 post to Learner 3: "I wish that I had the ideas running through my head that you do. Great post."
Learner 1 post to Learner 4: "I read your post and I am afraid that I have gotten overwellmed. I am just hoping to get through this class. I came from another program and I am really feeling that I made a mistake. I hope not, I really want to complete this program. That is my dream for many years."
Based on the discussion posts of Learner 1 to other learners in the discussion forum, describe how you will handle this situation. What strategies will you use to support this learner?
Tamara,
Thank you for sharing this strategy with us. I know it will be of help to other online instructors that are faced with a similar issue. The more strategies we are aware of the more ways we have to help keep our students in our classes and be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my experience I have found that students who post personal concerns in a public area are hoping that someone (usually the instructor) will reach out to them. Sometimes this is for a little reasurrance/pep-talk and sometimes just to know that they are not walking through the virtual world by themselves.
My strategy would be do deliver a compliment (even if it is just a small one) on the discussion board so they could enjoy a little positive attention in front of the class. Then I would follow that up with a private message to the student offering encouragement and assistance. If it continued, I would reach out to their campus administration contact to share and strategize. They might be in need of some one to one, face to face support that I cannot provide to them within our online platform.
Alfred,
Thank you for sharing this good advice with us. I know this information will be valuable to other instructors, especially those just starting their teaching careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learner 1 feels they are not up to the task at hand. First I would encourage them to continue on. I would explain everyone learns in different ways.
I would also review learner 1's work and ensurethey are ontrack. I would offer specific encouragement if they are. Otherwise I would give positive feedbackto get them on track. I would also refer them to learning labs and tutoring.
Troy,
Thank you for sharing your strategy for working with a challenging student. I know this information will be of help to other instructors when they face such situations and experience has taught me we all will.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would send a private email to Learner 1 and remind the student to attend my weekly webinars if they are experiencing problems in the course. If the problems need more immediate attention, I would offer to schedule a private chat session to address the issue. I would also send a generic email to all students reminding them about attending my weekly webinars for students with questions who maight be needing help.
Kara,
Good advice for how to continually reach out to students and let them know they are valued in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would call and reassure /encourage the student. I would achieve rapport and identify strengths that the student has demonstrated.
This type of question would merit a very careful answer. I would encourage the student to try and I would set up a conference call to discuss possibilities and help.
