Jessica Porter

From this module, I have learned the importance of a comprehensive evaluation process in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of a course. Evaluation is not just about gathering feedback from students; it involves various stakeholders, including peers, institutional leaders, and the professional community, each bringing a unique perspective. 

I love rubrics as they make it easier to be consistent with grading. 

In an online teaching environment, instructors must ensure that students are learning and applying their knowledge through targeted activities. The course framework and module templates provide consistency, helping students scaffold their learning by building on prior knowledge and skills. The instructor acts as a guide, supporting students' success by providing structure through scaffolding, which helps students focus on learning objectives. Effective scaffolding involves tasks such as providing clear instructions, clarifying purpose, keeping students on task, offering assessments, guiding students to valuable sources, and reducing uncertainty and disappointment.

The development of a learning-objects database is valuable for reusing course materials and sharing them with other instructors. 
 
 

Conflicts are common in e-learning environments due to the interdependent and interactive relationships necessary for dynamic learning. Key causes of conflict include ineffective communication, personality differences, and discrepancies in values, goals, or fulfillment of responsibilities. As an instructor, it's important to resolve conflicts early to prevent escalation, following institutional policies, and keeping records of all relevant communication.

Facilitating effective asynchronous discussions requires structured activities and occasional intervention to encourage interaction among learners. Key strategies include providing clear netiquette rules, monitoring and guiding discussions, and keeping them focused on relevant course topics. 

Building one-on-one relationships with students, based on trust, respect, and consideration, forms the foundation of a dynamic and meaningful classroom experience. To foster an e-learning community, students should post a brief biography as their first assignment. Encouraging them to read others' biographies and engage in face-to-face discussions with nearby classmates can further enhance community-building.
 
 

Every instructor has their own way of delivery however, we are delivering instruction toward the same goal. Familiarizing with the infrastructure is key to understanding how the online platform impacts students and teachers.