Miguel:
Let's assume that the Instructor has the time to schedule five sessions per Chat. That will result in five groups. Assume further that the Instructor is capable of managing the Chat sessions and providing feedback etc for all of the Chat sessions in the course. In this scenario, how will you ensure that all students in all groups share the content ofcall of the Chat sessions?
Satrohan
I disagree with your assumption to some extent. It is not that students cannot be in class at a particular time but rather that they cannot be in a particular location at the same time every day or every week. If students enjoy the interaction with the instructor and other students they will surely find a way to be online at the given time in much the same way that a person finds time to watch his/her favourite TV show whether at home or at a hotel.
Nandan:
I assume that you mean that not all students mya have access to the internet at the times for which Chat sessions have been scheduled.
Satrohan
Smaller is better but not always possible. We have all seen examples of large chat groups that were ineffective. but a large group 20-30) is possible depending on the topic, interest by the students, and the direction of the instructor.
Greg:
Of all the success factors you have mentioned, the instructor's ability to manage a group of 20-30 is most critical. What do you think would be the duration of a Chat session with this number of students?
Satrohan
Satrohan, Sonia and All:
I like the interactivity of chat during lecture, like that provided by the Adobe Acrobat platform. Do you?
Tim
In one online school I teach at very few students out of a class of 37 attend the live chats, two per week per class each having a mandatory one hour session. The instructor is required to conduct 10 live chat session per five week course. Maybe 5 or 6 in a class will attend. Sometimes no students will attend. I believe the poor attendance is due to the fact that the live chats are not mandatory.
Discussion threads, in another college where I teach, with a scenario tied to the course objectives of each weekly discussion thread, is much more effective. Students are required to respond at a minimum of three days a week and must reply to each discussion thread topic with a minimum of three substantive responses. "I agree" is not a substantive response. They are graded on their postings.
My experience with chats is similar - generally low turnout .... Jon
Yes. First, direct transmission is the heart of learning. Technology is good but not a complete substitute. Second, a chat can be archived. Thus some students may attend and other may view the archive. Also, students that attended may go back and view the archive to seek clarification. I have the later happen many times.
Alan,
Good point on chats. I like the idea of being able to re-use as much as possible, and this works well.
Thanks,
Jon
Gardner,
I agree with you that attendances for live chats are low at time because they are not mandatory. However, it is impossible to make them mandatory because of the time differences. I also think that some online learners prefer to watch an archive rather than go live. It takes effort to go live rather and it is easier to watch the archive and perhaps exhale after a busy day at work. Attendance at my chats varies from class to class, but it is generally low overall. However, I find that many students do watch the archive because in my first chat of the week I go over the assignments and provide 2-3 examples of previous students work (with the authors’ permission of course). By providing multiple examples, the students can see there are many ways to complete the assignment and I also point out mistakes in the assignments. I never use a paper that is perfect because that can create apprehension for some students that may feel inadequate. Additionally, the students can learn from others’ mistakes and evaluate how to improve the assignment. I also cut ideas out of deliverables that earned A’s papers to encourage original thought. In the chat, I welcome students to email me for the examples and this is a way I have a general idea of how many students watch the archive.
Melissa
Archiving or saving live chat sessions is important. I have had online students all over the world, and no matter how many live chat times are offered, some will be unable to attend "live."
Chat sessions can be extremely beneficial, if they are archived. One of the main reasons individuals puruse the Online Learning Environment is because of flexibility and convenience. Typically chat sessions are scheduled at either the conveience of the facilitator or through a consensus of student requests. Either way, those that can come will and those that cannot have the option of viewing the information at a time that works for them. The key to successful chats is content, if the facilitator is prepared, has a Power Point or some other visuals, the students will benefit from the information. I do not think that chats should be mandatory because there are just to many variables from a student's perspective.
There is no question that the difficulties that lead students to choose online education are the same ones that make scheduling chats (and expecting many students to show up) difficult. But I find that as long as I get a few students to show up (between 3 and 8 is typical), I can create an environment that is useful to those who have to come along later. The conversation in the Live Chat usually covers what other students would ask about.
Kevin,
A few students are helped....that is an awesome thing!
Shelly Crider
Attendance at chat sessions will always be problematic due to not only student's schedules outside the class but also because frequently value is not seen in them. I try to invite students each week by email and let them set the agenda by bringing in their questions. That way immediate relevance is seen. After a session I post an announcement or email stating the contents of the session in the hopes that this might motivate students to at least review the saved versions of the chat session.
Martin,
There are time differences as well. Saving the chat session will allow a student to view at a more suitable time.
Shelly Crider
I do as well. It not only provides the added opportunity for those who can attend but it can offer an instructor an additional means of assessing the student's skill level, any language barriers that may be present (I teach English), and gives us a boost in that you find students truly wanting to learn more about the topic. Their enthusiasm, critical thinking in chats,...is very rewarding.
Sheryl,
I like criticial thinking in chats as well. It is what we do in a classroom!
Shelly Crider
