Collaboration and Workload Strategies
How do you create a good atmosphere of collaboration without overtaxing yourself as an online instructor?
Dale and Monica,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Keep your ideas coming. We are all learning from each other through these forums.
Basically, I do what I expect students to do in return.
--I am respectful;
--I address them by their name and I make sure that I spell it correctly (I sometimes get offended when my name is spelled wrong :));
--I encourage them to ask questions (and I let them know that there is no "stupid" question, no matter how simple they think the answer is); and
--I inform them to "meet" me during my office hours so that they can have a chat with me instead of having multiple lengthy e-mails when I think the answer is complicated to explain.
Thanks,
Christine
Make sure I don't take on too many courses/schools at a time. Although the extra pay is enticing, you can end up losing out because you are sacrificing quality and those schools may end up cutting you from the cadre.
Monica,
I think that you touched on one of the most important aspects of this discussion, and that is feedback. I have had students tell me how frustrating it can be when they receive little or no feedback, even when they get an A on the assignment. Students want to know what they can improve on for sure, but they also want to know what they did well.
I always respond to students by name. I send welcome e-mails and continuously send the message that I am available if they need me. I do post regular office hours and ask that students contact me during those hours. by doing this, I can be assured that students are not calling me all hours of the day. I do however recognize that not all students can be available during my office hours, so I will take a call outside those hours, but it has to be by a mutually agreed upon time.
I respond to each students initial posting. I also respond to them by name as well. I want them to feel very special and I try to pay close attention to those details. I even respond to them by name when I am giving grading feedback as well.
Nathan,
Being available for students is a great way to also encourage communication. Thanks for your input.
My strategy is to over communicate with my students and to be accessible. So they can text or call when they need my time. In 10 year I have only had one student abuse this. Most students never text, or call. Email is the mode of choice. Kind of odd. Could be generational. Not sure. If things were to get out of hand I would rework the strategy to have set office hours.
Kimberley,
"Student Lounge," "Coffee Shop," etc. are all ways to get students to start engaging in the content. Thanks!
Stephanie,
The rules for feedback within 24-48 hours is very common. It's good to keep up with those guidelines.
I like to respond to each individual student within 48 hours and refer to him or her by name. I check in each day so that I can stay on top of the discussion posts and I find the more interactive I am the more students tend to follow my lead. I also try to connect student posts to one another to support the collaboration between them as opposed to always looking to me to guide or lead the discussion.
Stephanie
To create a good atmosphere of collaboration I created a student lounge section in the course so the students can introduce themselves and interact with me and their peer within the classroom. In the lounge students feel a sense of interdependence and connectivity with their peers that is not solely geared towards the course content.
Thank you
Shannon,
This is a good way to develop community within the course. You're right about the sandwich method. Thank you.
I always respond to the student by name. I also end each communication with "Your Instructor, Shannon George, B.S, CPhT" and then my phone number. Each feedback consists of praise, polish, and syntax correction and then ended with another sentence of praise. This "sandwich method" is very effective.
Sherrilyn,
I like to address students in a personalized manner as well. I think it's great to model professionalism in this way. You are doing that as you thank them for taking part too. Nice job.
This actually is a follow up to the question in Forum 2. I think if you have scheduled time to be an active participate then that in itself adds to a good atmosphere. I also, address all of my students by their first name and I allow my student to address me by my first name. (Most of them don’t but that is my way of adding to a good atmosphere). I also never criticize a student’s post, even if the post has nothing to do with the topic at hand. I just thank them for taking part and try to re-ask the question in a way that hopefully they will answer once they return to the discussion board.
Sherrilyn
Michelle,
Sounds like you have a communication plan in place that would encourage students to be engaged and feel free to communicate. Thanks for your input in this forum.
How do you create a good atmosphere of collaboration without overtaxing yourself as an online instructor?
I try to utilize multiple forms of communication. I utilize course announcements, email, text messages, chat rooms, discussion board posts, and screencasts. I always address students by the name they prefer. I also always start off with a positive statement as well.
Someone else in this discussion mentioned anticipating questions. I utilize this best practice as well. When I know “tricky content†is headed our way I make a screencast walking the students through the information.
Lisa,
I do too. I think students feel more like they are a part of a class and not just a number when you address them their name. It's just professional. Thanks!
