Jessica,
That is right and so important for all of us involved in life long learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Donald,
Why? Don't you think you can refocus your efforts from video games to an online course? I do think we have to evaluate ourselves regularly to make sure that we aren't the dinosaurs in the online teaching environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Discover weaknesses so you can improve upon them. Understand strengths so you can continue to grow them.
I have been teaching online firm over 12 years. I am not sure if a self-analysis inventory would be beneficial at this stage. Clearly, it would be beneficial for a new instructors who would be teaching online. Even so, as computers become more more prevalent in society, I am not sure that the self-awareness inventory has value. It just seems that there are altogether too many people playing video games, and this scale will transfer over into an online classroom.
Kimberly,
Great post. We as instructors need to practice what we teach. Students should have realistic expectations of us.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I, like students, need to ensure I have the time to devote to their learning experience. It is not fair to students if I am partially attentive to their needs. I need to analyze myself so that I identify my weak points and work on them. Same rules that apply to the students should apply to the instructors. We have to be organized, dedicated, focused, attentive, etc. I have the same expectations of my students.
Also, knowing my strong points will allow me to share those with students and provide good examples of things that may help them be successful in the online environment.
compreca,
You are right, it does make sure we as instructors continue to work to improve our skills. It also let's us continue to do what we do well.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi all,
I would say instructors will complete a self-analysis to ensure they are prepared. Ensuring preparedness will provide a substantive and structured learning environment. This will also help the instructor identify student challenges in the online community. In identifying these challenges, the instructor can meet the needs of the student efficiently. I struggle with technology, as an instructor teaching online this means I have to strengthen this area to further assist my students. Some students may have the same problem. Thank God for IT support. Thanks, Compreca
David,
That is the purpose of instructor self-analysis inventory. We have to have continuous quality improvement.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
As an instructor I am always trying to improve my teaching skills. Every class is different regarding subject matter, and student population. I want to be an effective teacher regardless of the classroom environment.
Lawrence,
Isn't it a type of assessment. We want to "close the loop" regarding our own assessment of teaching.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Christi,
Don't you wish this process would be done for f2f educators also? All those fine qualities you state should be for all educators not just the online ones. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Andrew,
LOVE THIS! I may share this with my colleagues. It was so well put. Students do depend on our continuous improvement.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Andrew,
Love your post! Yes, it does and you are confident enough to use them as they were intended; to make you a better educator. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Leah,
Don't you think you being an online learner makes you a better online instructor. Most research bares this out. Great post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Edna,
What a great course. at post! You really did identify a skill set very well. I think you make a great point regarding instructors needing to have certain skills. I also think we have to add that they are willing to continue to learn new a ways of facilitating. I have found that instructors that were pioneers in the online environment seem to stop learning new ways of facilitating online. It becomes a barrier to student learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important to complete a self analysis inventory to identify weaknesses and strenghts. Evenutally, we should ultimately strive to close all weaknesses, the best we can to make us better instructors, and ultimately better people. To a large extent this is a goal of self development programs, such as what we are taking now.
Lauree,
You are so right! I hadn't thought about continuous self analysis is a step toward transparency to students. That is so true. It does validate your humaness (I don't think that is a word).
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
James,
Great post. I agree with you, the self-analysis survey should help the instructor determine strengths and weakness and work on both. We need to realize that we can always improve.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important for online instructors to complete a self-analysis inventory because it allows the instructor to determine his or her readiness to teach in the online environment. Just like students, the instructor has to ensure that he or she possess the skills that will allow the instructor to provide a collaborative learning environment for the students. Instructors should understand the time and effort that will be required to ensure effective communication and timely, constructive feedback to students.
