Does anyone else feel this way?
Mentoring and coaching seems easier through distance learning or online classes than in a traditional college classroom. Does anyone else feel this way?
Caring = Time! Take the time to get involved with your students. Let them know you're here to help. And then, follow through by actually helping them. Sometimes we can't help, but we usually know who to send them to for help. Just take the extra time to find out what they need.
Loretta,
How does one demonstrate "caring" in your school?
Jeffrey Schillinger
It's really all about just taking the time to "care", really care, about each of your students - no matter the distance!
I have never taught a on-line couse so I feel I am not really able to comment on that, but I do know that when I am face to face with a student I can see his reaction in his face , language and body language which to me makes it easier to know what feedback you are getting from the student.
Thank you, Linda. Many folks who have taken this course have expressed the opposite view, that it is easier to model, mentor and monitor in a classroom setting. You do a nice job of illustrating that one can model, mentor amd monitor in any academic environment if one looks for ways to do so.
Having worked in both environments I agree that online teaching is often easier to model, mentor and monitor. When in the classroom depending upon the size of the class sometimes students get "lost in the shuffle". Whereas online you are speaking more or less to one student at a time giving you more opportunity to make your response fit the needs of the student.
I teach both online and onground and find value in both types of learning. Online, I do find that I am able to mentor and coach the students who would be less likely to speak in an onground setting. For example, the student who prefers to sit in the back and speak as little as possible due to shyness or lower self esteem. In the online classroom, all students must communicate--through the discussion area, through assignments, and through interaction when help is needed.
As for onground, I find it easier to mentor because my body language can be viewed. Students can see that I am truly interested in them through my facial expressions and words. Online, I must be more careful when posting. Each response is critical--and one misconstrued message can cause a student to shut down.
As in both worlds, teaching is a delicate art!
It's obvious that it is much easier to to be an effective mentor when your students are face-to-face. However, it might be more rewarding in the end if you can successfully mentor a student whome you've never had the honor of sitting or speaking with them face-to-face. On-line communication is increasing dramtically each day and more and more people build all kinds of relationships via the internet without ever meeting. Like all relationships, including that of a mentor, it's the heart and effort that you put in that will yield the best results.
Jim,
Most people agree with you that it is easier to communicate face-to-face. Successful online instructors are the ones who spend a great deal of time interacting with their students through the discussion forums or even by the telephone.
The things that work in a classroom also are important for online faculty members to do. It may take more time because it often the teacher and the student are not online at the same time.
I have never taught an on-line course but it seems to me that I'm able to communicate better to students face to face.
Tom,
Many people feel the same way. Most of us are more comfortable when we are face-to-face with our students
There are many online students and classes accross the country and the number is growing. Even though we never "see" these students, we still have to find ways to build the same kind of relationships we build with our resident students.
Do you have any ideas for things online instructors may do to accomplish this goal?
I disagree face to face is much more effective.
George,
Thousands of students are taking online classes. Somehow, we have to find ways to provide the same level of service and caring that we do for our campus-based students. Any ideas?
No way. Face to face cannot be eplicated via a phone or email mentorig session.
I have to disagree actually it takes more effort to mentor and coach in the online platform than in the classroom F2F. However it must be done successfully online if you are to succeed as an instrcutor who has learned the 3Ms regardless where you use it.
Deborah,
I have found it easier to coach and mentor in a traditional classroom, but I can see how good online instructors can do well at those tasks.
