Be Available
I have posted my cell phone number for my students to contact me. Being able to contact me has been really helpful for my students.
EDNA,
I find the same works well for me. Thank for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I usually create an alternate number for them to cotnact me that I have forwarded to my cell phone. Helps keep personal and professional separate.
Amaris,
The google numbers are good for this. Thanks for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I note in the weekly intorduction to the lesson as well as in the syllabus and the course introduction letter that I am available during scheduled office hours and if these do not fit the students schedule to contact me to arrange a convenient time to have a personal discussion. My contact number is available and I can repsond via email or by phone.
I also note that during the chat sessions we should stick to course topics and comments or discussion regarding personal matters including grades are to be handled in private forums. The repsonse I get is positive and encouraging, students see that I place a high value on being available. Since my courses are quantitative this encourages the students and helps foster the instructor student relationship.
Availability of the instructor is essential in online learning environment. This is especially true because the facilitator and the learner cannot physically interact with one another. Availability can be achieved in various ways. Examples of how a facilitator can achieve availability include adequate presence in the discussion board and regular posting of announcements in the course homepage and announcements page.
In addition, more live chat sessions, instant messaging, virtual office hours can be used to augment facilitator's availability. If meetings are scheduled, promptness also matters. Lack of availability kills learners’ interest.
I agree that alternate numbers is essential to learners' success. Email is often not enough. Some students want to hear a human voice. Whereas some instructors don't want to provide their person phone numbers, I provide mine. However, I always advise learners not call between 7:00 PM at 8:00 am of my local time as well as on Sundays and holidays.
I have taken many online courses and some instructors have provided a phone number to call with any questions. I think this is a double edged sword. I prefer to give an email and provide a rapid response. If a student tries to call me and gets voicemail you may end up in a "phone tag" situation which can be discouraging to students.
Jeffrey,
The availability and approachability of the instructor is often cited as a high imporatnce to the online students. Thank you for sharing these helpful guidelines.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Ejike,
Establishing respectful parameters can actually enhance the students' recognition of your openness and availability. This often makes them not take your 'extra time' for granted. Good point.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I would never give my personal cell phone number out to my students! I did that once and it turned out to be a very bad mistake!
I would suggest giving out the office phone number or maybe your personal email. That way they wont be calling you all hours of the night (like they did to me)!
Excellent point, students may feel more comfortable relating personal information this way
Shannon,
Very good point. I have used the GoogleVoice (free service) with some success.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I would not give out my personal cell phone, however I do make sure my students are aware of my availability in the school. I make sure to remind them to call me on off days or to speak with another instructor if i am not available and they need something addressed at a time that i am not going to be able to get back to them.
I do agree with your comment about it being a double edge sword. I like email as well because it is linked to my phone. I can then read it when I received it and prioritize the ones that I need to call back immediately.
I have done this once for a student. It worked out fine for us - she called about once a week with questions about assignment instructions. I think it worked much better than email or even IM because I was able to sense the confusion in her voice better. For example, she might say, "Okaaaay," and I could tell that she still had some questions. Whereas if we were using only electronic media, I would have been more likely to take her "okay" at face value.
One issue that I struggle with is how available to be through email. Obviously, this is the main way students can communicate with online instructors so I check it at least three times a day. However, I have had students who got anxious when they did not get a reply immediately. How do y'all balance meeting students' needs without constantly checking and replying to email all day?
Thanks!
Kim
Kimberly,
Thank you for sharing this example as well as raising the accessibility question for us to discuss. With my online students I let them know when I will be checking my email, for example three times a day as you mention you do. This way they don't panic when they don't hear right back from me but know I will be checking the email in a few hours. Set the ground rules right up front and this will create boundaries for the students to work within. If you are constantly accessible this can create dependence issues with some students. You want them to think for themselves before they reach out with a question to you.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would not give out my personal cell phone,but if you create a third party number like google number and then transfer any incoming calls to your cell number, then this might be a solution!
Hani,
I don't typically give my cell phone out either; however, some online programs might require their faculty to have a cell phone (or other phone) that students can use to regularly contact students. In this case you need to have clear expectations for the appropriate communication rules of the class. For example, no calls after 9pm or 10pm, no calls before 8am - if you are online you might need to be specific about the time zone. Clear boundaries have to be established. Another way might be to have a skype number you give out, and when you are "connected" you get the calls and it has a voicemail system. I try to keep my personal and work lives distinct.
Herbert Brown III
