By being present in the discussion threads and chat rooms as a predictable time. I also encourage the students by giving questions and problems to solve in a group setting.
Suzanne and Frank,
You are so right - imitation is a good thing. You're serving as a good role model for them and that's an important concept. Thanks!
Suzanne and George,
Thanks for your input in this forum. What a clever idea to use a newsletter format to get the word out to students. Thanks again.
Suzanne,
Ah - love it! Many of the things we do in the classroom can be delegated to students in some way - especially with group projects. Thanks for bringing that up. I provide students a great opportunity to take a leadership role.
Frank:
I have found that to be true in my experience as well. I sometimes smile when I read student comments to other students in the discussion board as so many of them mimic the way that I post my comments. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Thank goodness I concentrate on positive interactions. :)
Suzanne
George:
I use a newsletter on a weekly basis which gives important information on concepts and applications and provides current focus areas. It is more formal than a blog, but still presents as an informal communication tool.
Suzanne
As an online instructor facilitating a group project, I delegate authority to the students while taking on the role of a mentor. This serves two purposes: It provides an opportunity for students to take on responsibility and practice different pertinent roles in a team-based environment and it permits me to take a back seat, so to speak. I am still there monitoring and am there to offer professional and expert advice while guiding the students where needed, even without them overtly requesting it, but it permits me to stay in the background. This lessens my workload but not my overt primary leadership role.
Suzanne
Beth,
Nice job. I have students do this as well. I group the students and assign one group per week to be in charge of doing this for a themed discussion.
I try to vary my input on the boards. Sometimes I used "prefab" stories or thought-starters and then I try to personalize comments to materials posted by students. Although I require the majority of student responses to be comprehensive, I may also make brief comments that are funny or specific to posts just to develop a presence or show I am actually reading what is written.
Faith ,
Have you tried Remind 101? It allows you to write one message, but it is texted to all students. It's good for reminder especially.
Theran,
You bring up a good point. When the standard routine changes, students do need to be informed. I like that you noted how you respond to students in a variety of ways. Thanks!
Texting seems to generally work better than email - unless some students are older and not up on texting? What about older students - do they participate as well as their younger classmates? Are there any other students in this category?
I do various things, as indicated in another post I respond to all emails, and I inform students of changes in the standard routine.
I try to post a few announcements each week, especially clarification or administrative items.
I will reply to discussion posts directed to my attention, and I try to post replies to concepts that I feel need to be emphasized that students post.
I also post to the discussions items related to the weekly concepts being covered that may be of interest or provide application of a concept.
I respond to instant messages, and also respond to students in live chats.
Frank,
Being positive and serving as a great role model for students is excellent. Keep up the good work.
I try to model positive communication practices with the students in my classes. I find that students who become more relaxed about the communication environment in the online classroom are much more communicative and that helps to spread my workload among the entire class. I find that if I am encouraging to students and positive in my communications there are usually several students in the class who will mimic that behavior and be an encouragement to the entire class.
Frank Nolan
Christopher,
What is the "posting requirement?" Are you measuring the quality or quantity of students' posts?
Thanks for your continued input.
Outside of meeting the posting requirement, I set the atmosphere that is conducive to learning. I want my students to research and present practical examples of the discussion. I try to let my students dialogue but will guide them back in the right direction if I see them getting off track
Merle,
Consistency is a key factor for all involved in the online learning/teaching environment. The chats and communication among students and between the students and instructor alike. Thanks!
I generally maintain a consistent schedule. That way, students can have a sense of immediate contact. If a student has a question, he or she can email, chat, or call me....I also participate in the student chat forum. I find that students are more likely to share their challenges in the student chat forum and if I engage in their communications there, I am able to address much of the concerns. This actually reduces the amount of overall challenges because oftentimes if one student has a challenge, others may have the same or similar challenge. By addressing it in the student chat forum, I am actually reducing the workload as opposed to being overtaxed.
LE,
You may find it useful to use Remind 101 in which you can send one message to the students and it texts them all. Students tend to check texts more than emails nowadays. Thanks for your input.
