Carla,
Great answer! What do you use to help them navigate the LMS?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
kristen,
That is right! Do you have them an "test" on the LMS usage.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Julie,
Great points! Your experience will serve you well! I also think there should be consistency among courses at the same institution. That would help!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Stacy,
Great point. Hopefully your institution can help you with resources. I know libraries have created some good resources at many institutions, if faculty know about them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kirk,
Do you have ways of teaching them how to use these skills? Does your institution provide a orientation or do you provide one?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Adib,
I agree with you totally. I have concerns when institutions let students enroll in online courses when they don't have the connection or the computer. That is worse than not having a book!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Eileen,
I think we assume that but it is not so. Their technology skills are very spotty. (That is just my opinion)
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think the 3 most important skills are:
- How to post to a discussion post and reply to classmates' postings
- How to upload assignments and submit them as well
- The ability to use communication tools such as email and chat
Do you think many students today go into an online class already knowing how to do all of the above automatically?
- Dr. Eileen Wibbeke
One of the most important technical skills that I think are important for students are:
1. Having computer access - you msut have a computer in order to complete the assignments
2. Access to Microsoft Word/Office - Students will need this to complete papers and can also be used to help students with spell check
3. Internet Access with a decent speed - This can be frustating for students; therefore, I encourage them to use an internet software system that has internet modem verus dial up
4. Committment to embrace the online learning environment - If students are committed to learning online, it requires a committment to sometimes learning new things in order to be upset.
For my history class all the skills that go along with writing. This includes basic things such as spell check, writing, saving, and uploading a file in Word. They also need to know how to access the chat,view, send, and reply to emails. Much of these just need practice to learn and I often see my students improve as they move along in the unit.
Although it may seem almost intuitive, simple skills such as copying, pasting, uploading files, and downloading files aren't consistently present. There are many students will alert instructors immediately that they aren't aware of how to do this. It's useful if instructors are able to provide guidance in these areas.
Further, many students may not realize the importance of research in their assignments. If instructors can't provide direction in this area, they should, at least, provide resources that will be of assistance.
Students need to have a wide array of basic skills when taking classes online. I find that a number of students will skip the training as they think that online learning platforms are intuitive. Some students believe that Faceboook and other social media make them computer literate, but that is not the case.
I have taught on Bb, E-college, Web-tycho and a number of other platforms. Many of them have common features, but still training is needed to understand how to submit assignments, navigate the DB's, access feedback, access reading material, etc.
Students also need to have a basic understanding of Word. Students need to know how to save files, change headers, add page numbers, create hanging indents, create margins, attach documents, copy/paste and other formatting features. Using spell-check and downloading Adobe is vital as well.
Students should also take a library orientation and also understand the basics of the school's website.
Finally, if students are confused they should know where to seek help.
When a student is new to the online environment many come in with basic computer skills and social media skills but are not literate in LMS, therefore since each school is different it is important that the student be technically savvy in his or her school's LMS. It makes for a smoother and more pleasant experience for the student and reduces the amount of stress the student experiences while learning about being an online student. Taking the tutorial and spending a good 2 hours becoming familiar with practice lessons is a good way to become familiar with submitting documents, posting among the various skills one must perform as an online student.
I believe there are severals technical skills necessary for online students. The first being able to navigate through the online class. Next, I would suggest that self-discipline is the most important. Finally, the ability to use maximize one's critical thinking skills. Together, these technical skills will help online learners to be successful.
Heather,
I agree with you. Our institution does NOTHING about lacking proficient technical skills. I make the expectation myself and hold them to it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Beth, I agree with your list of basic technology skills for a student in the online environment. I occasionally have students enrolled in my classes who have a very limited knowledge of how to navigate the online environment. I believe having a pretest for online readiness and a class for students who have a gap in their technical skills would be helpful at my university. All to often this gap of skills can cause a student to get frustrated and drop out of the class. How does your institution handle student who lack proficient technical skills?
Beth,
That is a good point. There are essential skills students need to be able to do as well as instructors!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Karen,
That is a good idea! So, students see their posts and can edit and/or delete their communication?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Students should have the ability to email, upload, download, convert to pdf and other basic functional skills. This will allow them to contribute and participate appropriately and support their use of other more advanced technical options.
There should also be a resource for the student to go and learn additional skills. This may include things such as internet searches or using PowerPoint, so that they fully versed as well as competent in their knowledge of what tools may be useful to them in their academic (as well as non-academic) lives.
Sarah,
What a great post! It is very frustrating with students not following directions. It makes you wonder if it is really a technology issue or just not "listening".
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
