Rebecca Fears

Keep all correspondence catagorized and organized.  

Be careful with feedback tone to motivate and encourage learners

Post a Bio about you as the instuctor and require one from the students.  Read them in a timely manner and get to know them by the end of week 1.  Send a message to each student by the end of week 1.

Frustration comes from a CMS that is not functioning.  Also, students need to reach out to tech support as soon as they have issues to be able to meet deadlines.

Critical thinking involves mulling over topic and providing a carefully thought out response.  High school students today lack this ability and they do  not attend college, they have no recourse to learn this type of thinking other than in the work place as they advance.  Student that take the time to consider critical thinking do better in school and are promoted faster in the work place.

Rubrics are essential for online testing, however, keep them easy to understand and very descriptive.

Students must have equipment that meets requirements, Wifi that is uninterrupted, Technology help is mandatory, and students must be willing to problem solve to effectively engage in the course. 

Active learning is needed, but I am not sure it should redefine the instructor's role.  I think the instructor should at times be a mentor, coach, facillitator and at times the instructor should continue to provide instruction through lector.  This is as important as it teaches listening skills and gives the student the most important info that the instructor as determined to be best.