Ensuring that we identify ways to personalize each student will help ensure that we are making them feel like a person and not just a response on a computer screen, which will hopefully encourage better participation and more successful learning.
Like face-to-face teaching, relationships play a vital roll. Students need to know their instructor in order to build relationships and a positive classroom climate.
I agree that posting a bio and asking students to do the same is an excellent way to establish authority and to lay the groundwork for getting to know your students. I plan to use this method whenever I begin teaching a new group of students.
I learned the importance of creating positive relationships with students on the online platform.
I have learned there are many ways to project your presence and authority using an online forum with students. It is also equally important to get to know the students and their biographies so you can relate to them and establish trust in the classroom with each student.
thw same rules apply the in class room experience as it dones in the online experience. Projecting your presence gives students the information they need to trust the professor is an expert in the field they are teaching.
I learned that our presence online is not that different from the classroom. We need to establish relationships, boundaries, and guidlines to maintain and effective culture for learning. We should set the example and the students should follow.
It is important to be able to assert your authority but also be relational.
Instructors do not have to dominate the discussion in order to make our presence felt.
Even in a virtual environment, presence and relationship with each student is critical. Being online requires a bit more creativity as we lack the direct person-to-person time that we have in a traditional classroom. Students want to know who we are and it is meaningful and leads to engagement if we can also learn about them and express interest in them as individuals. I am pleased to see that many of the approaches recommended in this module are techniques that I have used in traditional classroom settings and will continue in the online format.
I learned that if everyone posts a Biography about themselves, it helps everyone understand were everyone stands in the class.
Reply to Gloria Evans's post: I love the idea of having the students have an expectation of their teacher.
What I am taking away from this lesson in making myself presence online is this assuring the students know that I have their interest at heart in the success in learning as well as getting to know each students and the way they learn. I will also write a biography but also present it in a dramatic way to show the diversity in learning styles.
Reply to Marvin Jimenez's post: I truly like your suggesition; I hope you don't mind if I use your idea. Video my biography sounds like a real dramatic skit coming up.
This is what I've learned from the model. The importance to project my presence and authority in e=learning are these: I must make myself known to all students by sharing a short biography of my academics, qualiifications, achievements, and hobbies, and interests. I must also allow students the same right on the first day and first week to share their story of themselves. I must inform students of virtural office hours and be sensitive to those who live in different time zones. I must also remind students of my expectations and give constructive and instructive feedback in order to keep the students engage. I should consider the students feeling in whether to share the name of academics achievements across the platform. I should always keep the students engage in lessons in order to keep my projecton of presence and authority.
I liked the idea of the biography. I can definitley utilize that in my classroom
Making sure students get a bio of myself and asking students to write a short bio. Create contact with each student within the first week and commenting on something they may have written in bio.
First, I need to state my credentials and then introduce any hobbies and what not to relate to the students on a personal level. Here is an example of how I would do this:
Hello Class,
I am a computer programmer by trade, and have developed numerous computer programs ranging from simple web pages to a complete eco system for a doctor's office that covered every digital aspect of a doctor's private practice, but teaching is my real passion. There is nothing quite like the feeling I get when I see the light of recognition go off in the eyes of one of my students. In the case of online students, this would be virtual eyes. LOL! I learned to program computers in the late 1990’s and starting teaching shortly thereafter.
Personal Life:
Around the age of 13, I started developing a love for motorcycles. My first motorcycle was a dirt bike and when I turned 14, my dad bought me a dual sport motorcycle (one that can be ridden on and off road). Over the years I have owned many different motorcycles and I currently own two different bikes. I have a slightly modified Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R that makes 208 RWHP (Rear Wheel Horsepower). I just ordered a turbo kit for the Ninja and it should be ready within 4-6 weeks and I own an old school Honda SL100.
I also love to ride my bicycle. I try to ride it at least three times a week. I ride between 8 and 10 miles each time I ride. I believe that exercise is an important component in mental health—yes I said mental health. I believe that the body, mind and soul are connected in this triangle of life.
I also enjoy music. I like many different types of music, but my favorite is a relatively new genre of music called chill. It’s a cross between many different types of music so it’s really hard to explain, but it’s similar to progressive jazz. I also play the acoustic guitar and when I was much younger (my teenage years), I played in a local band. We played at school parties and we played for free!
I am married and have two young daughters ages 10 and 13. I take the role of being a father very seriously. This is by far the most challenging endeavor of my life. It is so easy to let the weight of life effect how one treats their family, but I like to remind myself on a daily basis that being a good role model for my children will last longer that anything that I ever hope to accomplish.
Sharing your bio will give students confidence in your competency for the courses you are providing instruction for.
Asking the students to post their bio is a good way for the other students and you as the Instructor to make some personal connections with the student.
