Interacting with students
I have found that with online instruction, students may not always reach out to you, but they are very appreciative when you reach out to them. I have been amazed at what some of my students have shared with me when I have called them. It is very easy for us to assume that if they didn't submit an assignment, that they were just "too busy" when in reality there may have been something that happened or is happening as to why they are not participating. Having that converstation with the student and ensuring them that you are there to support them does wonders. I have seen students do a complete turn-around after speaking with them.
Jeannie,
I have found the same with my students. Sometimes you find out that a student's parent is dying of cancer and they are trying to care for them. All they need is a little more time or help and understanding to be successful. I would say that is a reasonable expectation for an instructor.
Herbert Brown III
I have also found this to be true. For each online course that I teach, I first reach out to each student. Usually I do this through email first. If the students do not respond or attend the online course, I also work to reach them on the phone. In the introductory email that I send out, I ask the students to identify the best way to reach them. By doing this, I can ensure that we keep open communication in the class.
Zachary,
Good idea to identify at the beginning of the course the best way to reach them, so when and if you have a problem you know the best way to get them to help them. Oftentimes the hardest part of helping a student is getting them to respond back to your offers of help.
Herbert Brown III
Hi Zachary I do the same thing with my online classes. I start off in the beginning of the class and ask the students what is there preferred method of contact. I use a google number so I can text them also, so many of my students now are mobile and use prefer to use text to quickly contact me so I use the same method to reach out to them.
Justice,
I know a number of people that use google numbers for similar purposes. I believe we underestimate the power of texting in our online environments. We really need better SMS/Texting portals that would allow us to text our students just like email.
Herbert Brown III
In our school we use a system to foster engagement as well as retention. Besides the online instructor for each module of the program, we also have a tutor, which will accompany the student throughout the program, and to whom they can relate for personal problems, problems with interaction, circumstances preventing them from meeting course deadlines, and the like. It is a powerful tool to keep students properly engaged.
Ignacio,
So this individual is almost more of a "learning coach" for the students. This is an interesting position. Do they also help the students with the content in the course or is that the purpose of the instructor.
Herbert Brown III
No, content related isues correspond to the instructor. This tutor accompanies the student along the entire program, and we provide MBA programs, so it would be very difficult to find tutors with expertise in all the knowledge areas covered by the program.
I like your definition of "learning coach", it does capture the essence of the role of the tutor.
Ignacio,
I do like the fact that you have these tutors to assist the student with the logistics of the online learning experience. I know from experience that we loose a number of students just because of all of the crazy logistics of being an online program.
Herbert Brown III
Jeannie, I enjoyed reading your response and I too have found that students appreciate when instructor's reach out to them. At first, students are typically hesitant at contacting the instructor but once the instructor initiates contact this opens up the door and student's are then more likely to communicate effectively with the instructor.
Katrena Taylor-Springs
Ignacio, I have taught for a few different schools online and many of them have a system of they follow for retention efforts which typically includes reaching out to students especially those on a weekly basis who are not passing the or who fail to participate in discussions. When students know that you are paying attention they usually try harder or they will at least make an effort to let you know what's going on with them.
Katrena Taylor-Springs
Zachary, I enjoyed reading your post. I find it very important to develop the rapport with the students during the first week of class. I recently used a phonevite (phonevite.com) with one of my classes where an automatic phone message as sent to each of my students welcoming them to the class. They were extremely appreciative of the phone message and stated that they have never gotten that in any other class. This is definitely a time saver but it allows you to personalize your course and it shows students that you are interested and care.
Katrena Taylor-Springs
Katrena ,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have also found that the students enjoy a personal connection with the course. I try to incorporate elements that might build communication and a sense of community in my courses.
Herbert Brown III
