I would say my answer would be false, in an online environment you have to keep reminding them of there assignments, motivating them to continue, keep it interesting so they wont become bored with the class. With going to school online comes so many different things to besides doing your assignments. With so much flexibility some may find themselves playing it class to the deadlines so you have to post constant reminders.
Roshone:
I surmise from your answer that you maintain theta teaching in an online environment is more demanding than teaching in an on-the-ground environment.
Satrohan
I would have to say no - it is far more difficult to manage students in an e-learning environment. In the traditional classroom, you can give them time in class to work on assignments, read the text, ask questions, do homework, etc. In an e-learning environment, that is something you have no control over. The students are responsible for their own time management, which is usually a big problem for them. Having the freedom to study whenever they want, usually translates into an opportunity to procrastinate.
Kimberely:
Your last sentence expresses one of the problems well. In an online environment, Instructors lack the amount of control over events as they are able to exercise in a traditional classroom environment. Students bust therefore be disciplined in their approach to study to be successful in an online environment.
Satrohan
No, it is not easier because you now only have a name to try to remember and associate with learning styles, behaviors, etc., whereas a classroom instructor has a face and real-time behaviors to associate. It can be hard to remember who is at what point in the course and what their issues are without a top-notch record-keeping system. However, over time, with frequent interactions with students via email or chats, you will be able to sort out all your students as individuals. I keep my students in the loop and connected to me with weekly "tip" e-mails about our profession (medical transcription) and then a personal ending or uplifting encouraging line to start their week. They love it. diane
Diane:
I share your position that it is more time-consuming and probably more challenging to teach in an online environment. Face-to-face instructions works marvels fo the Instructor as well as the students. Your personal "tip" and encouraging remarks at the end of every week's sesion not only helps you to maintain a strong presence in the learning environment; but also sets the tone for the next segment of learning.
Satrohan
Satrohan wrote: In most online courses, students have the freedom to study whenever they want as long as they adhere to established deadlines for completing learning activities, assignments, and assessment measures. As such, is it true to say that it takes less effort to manage students in an e-learning environment than it is in a traditional classroom environment? Justify your answer.
Melissa's response: My response about mananging an online class is it isn't different than managing an online class, the method used is different. The technology presents an entire different set of skills required to manage an online course. Discussion forums, online tests, emails, electronic assignment submission - all of these are different than a classroom.
Melissa:
I agree on the difference. Given the difference you pointed out, would it take more time and effort to manage an online class?
Satrohan
Satrohan wrote:
Given the difference you pointed out, would it take more time and effort to manage an online class?
Melissa's response:
For me personally, I put the same time and effort into an online class as I would into an onground class as a teacher. The time is different for an online class because it may be spread out over an entire day, answering emails, discussion boards, etc. instead of one big chunk in the classroom.
The technology used to facilitate a course may sometimes inhibit instructors and add more time and effort to the management of an online course. Being on top of how the technology works can help make it easier to manage the online environment.
I do not think it takes less effort to manage students in an e-learning environment than it is in a traditional classroom environment. The instructor has the same responsibilties in the e-learning environment as the traditional environment, but the tools are different and the way of providing initial information and feedback to the students are different. Scheduling and planning are the key to managing students in any learning environment.
Daniel:
All things being equal, and assuming that you are proficient in the Course delivery and Management tools, how much more time (Percentage) do you believe an Instructor will have to expend to manage an online class?
Satrohan
I don’t think an instructor will need to expend any more time to manage an on-line class than a traditional class if they are proficient in the Course delivery and Management tools. In fact, it may save them time. Granted, I have never taught an on-line course, but I believe that since some of the functions of teaching, administering, and managing any course can be automated via certain technology (i.e. record keeping, submitting grades, providing feedback,...) there are definite time saving advantages in the asynchronous discussions using on-line technology by being able to focus on the needs those students that may require extra assistance.
I wouldn't say that it was easier, I would say that it is different. As an online instructor you have different methods of maintaining student retention, happiness, etc. than you would in a traditional classroom. Instructors need to be present and check in regularly for their students good. Instructors need to make their points well known, since there is no ability for non verbal cues, etc.
Amanda:
Please sahre with us the different methods instructors have available to maintain student retention, happiness etc. How are they different from methods that can be applied in a traditional learning setting?
Satrohan
I believe not. Because of the loose deadlines that are in an online classroom at time contributes to procrastination. There is a tendency to wait until the last minute to turn in assignments and if something happens then everything is late. That is why as an online Instructor you should encourage your students to turn in assignments before the due date.
That is a great suggestion Marcos. Many students are very busy Sunday completing their assignments at the last minute and it would make their lives a little less stressful if they completed it earlier, as you suggest. Thanks for your post Marcos.
I think you have more to manage in the online classroom.
I think students feel 'bolder' and are more inclined to 'speak' in class. The speaking has to have tight reigns as students feel like they can say whatever they want to say since no one knows who they are.
Hello –
Being one who has taught and teaches in both the traditional and online methods, I am inclined to support the claim that teaching in an online environment is much more demanding than teaching in a traditional classroom environment. I make this observation based on the premise that as instructors, we have to perform our duties from a distance making it more difficult to deal with conflict, or to know if the excuse for missing/late assignments is actually a fact. For example: There was a student in an accelerated 5-week summer class who claimed that his grandmother died three times during that class. When first questioned after the student claimed that grandma died “again†the student claimed that the grandmother had been revived by the hospital staff, then after the third excuse for the same grandmother, she had been revived a second time but did not make it through the third attempt. I am just glad that she did not die for five straight weeks.
Thanks for the conversation.
Dawn
Dawn,
That is an unbelievable excuse, and rather funny. Some instructors do not take excuses just for that reason. They might drop a grade or two, or provide an adequate time from introduction of the assignment to completion - if given 4 days to complete it, they hopefully can't say grandma dies each day for 4 days. Just the fact that you are typing most of what most people are talking about in a traditional class adds a tremendous amount of extra work.
Herbert Brown III
