I teach at a ground school where the students never did any of the homework. I now know what happens if the students are not helped getting started.
Carl,
Sounds like you are struggling with some difficult situations. Hang in there!
Tena,
I have to change my teaching style completely. Lecture doesn't work so I will be using elementary school techniques such as daily worksheets.
Carl
Carl,
What is included in the daily worksheets and do you feel they have to be daily and not weekly?
Thanks.
The daily worksheets are the homework assignments done in class on the days material. The students won't do homework or study at home so I have them do homework in class. For students with weak skills that don't study at home worksheets have to be each class period.
Hello,
This is an interesting question. In my opinion the three most important things to consider for online courses are the following:
1) Knowledge-base of current students
2) Type of syllabus (dynamic)
3) Methods of communication
I truly believe that it is important for the instructors to structure their courses based on student knowledge. Scaffolding is an excellent method to encourage students to use to enhance his/her learning. I also believe that having a dynamic syllabus will keep our students engaged throughout the entire course. Finally, it is truly important to "set the tone" for communication throughout the course. It is important to use as many methods as possible when communicating throughout the class.
Gregory Becoat
Three most important things to consider in teaching an online course:
1. Student needs and promptly identifying struggling students
2. Prompt feedback
3. Prompt communication
Carl,
Oh - so you are teaching in a blended environment where you see students F2F and they also do work online. That's my favorite way to teach. Thanks!
Gregory,
You bring up some good points. We have to know where the students are coming from and where they should be going (hence the learning outcomes). Communication is essential and the syllabus is many times the first communication outlet. Thanks!
laura,
Providing content and supplemental material in a variety of ways may helps those struggling students. Using your best communication and feedback skills is essential too. Thanks for sharing.
The three most important things to consider include:
the quality of the educational experience,
utilizing a number of learning approaches to connect with different learning styles so that students are learning the course content and the necessity of substantive feedback.
Donna,
Quality is so important. I can't stress that enough. There should be quality in everything: communication, feedback, assignment, assessment, etc. so the whole course is of great quality. Thanks!
Hello Dr. Crews and colleagues, :-)
I feel the three most important things to consider when teaching online are:
1) Facilitator presence via announcements and DB participation.
2) Timely feedback
3) Student outreach
Students that feel their instructor maintains a heavy classroom presence feel connected to the classroom which results in good student attendance.
It's important to give students timely feedback so they can learn from their mistakes and correct future work.
Instructors need to be in contact not only with those students that attend class, but also those that are non-attendant. Calling and/or emailing students shows them that you care about their well-being and are interested in their success.
Sara Fine
Online Instructor
Sara,
We do need to be present in the course overall. When we provide meaningful, timely feedback, we develop that presence as well and help students improve and move forward. Thanks!
I have been teaching online for several years now and the three most important considerations are:
1)Student experience in an online environment - It's easy for me to forget that not everyone is comfortable in this type of learning environment. I need to work to help them become more comfortable.
2)Communication - It's important to respond to student requests in a timely manner.
3)Feedback on performance - The students want to know what they need to do to improve and they can only do this if we provide timely feedback.
Francis ,
Experience brings us knowledge and helps develop our skills. Thanks for sharing your top tips with others.
Hi, Everyone,
The three most important items in teaching an online course include first, providing a clear, specific, and dynamic syllabus; second, providing discussion questions that allow the students an opportunity to discover what they know and to expand that knowledge; and third, to provide an environment and learning sequence that allows students to build on what they already know as well as constructing their learning scaffold with new information and understanding.
Janet
Janet,
The syllabus is typically the first thing we think about because many times it is the first bit of communication we provide to our students. Combining this information with the learning objectives and scaffolding new learning is essential. Nice job.
Hi, Everyone,
The three most important things to consider are 1) that the course syllabus is clear and specifies all requirements, 2) the the discussion questions are designed to provide students the opportunity to discover their own level of knowledge of the subject and to be able to expand their knowledge, and, 3)my input into the classroom supports and encourages student learning.
Janet
Janet,
Right on! And so much of what you are discussing is about communication - typically the most important thing in any situation.
Thanks!
