Melody Banks

Review and feedback about the course and instruction are critical to enhance and improve future learning opportunities for students.

This module focused on assignment feedback for students.  This includes developing a rubric for grading, self and peer assessments and providing individualized feedback to students to assist in improving their performance.

This module focused on many different topics.  However,, two topics that were covered in detail included creating an on-line learning environment and scaffolding.  Creating an on-line learning environment provides as cohesive approach to learning for students and allows them to feel as though they are part of a community.  While scaffolding is a learning approach that allows for current subject content to be a building block based on prior subject covered to enhance and deepen the learning approach for students.

In this module, the focus was development and consistency of resources.  A single database (repository) should be created to save different course resources like videos, graphs, complementary articles, etc., in order for easy and convenient access to use for future courses.  Also, in developing the course and modules, there should be a consistent theme used throughout to include wording, fonts, graphics, etc. as not to confuse the students but rather enhance their learning.

This module focused on good recordkeeping skills and communicating effectively with students in several different ways.  There was a great focus on the best ways to communicate with students for counseling purposes related to performance, behavior, and conflict management.   There were also some helpful tips about how to recognize and minimize student attrition.

This module focused on engaging students through different communication methods.  There are asynchronous and synchronous discussions along with providing timely and supportive feedback.  These methods assist in keeping our e-learners engaged in the course.

This module focused on engaging with students in a virtual environment.  In order to do so, it is important to establish yourself as a subject matter expert through experience and education, to engage with the class in a supportive manner and provide continual, personalized communication.

This module seemed to focus on the mechanics of the course.  This would specifically include becoming familiar with the CMS that you will be utilizing for your course.  In order to be effective and support student learning, it is important to understand all of the mechanics of the system, be proficient in each task that would need to be complete and knowledgeable about it in order to assist students.