Sabrina,
Good! Make sure that you have balance and you don't feel that you are always online with students. You need boundaries as do they!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
While all of the Principles of Learning are important the ones that stand out the most with my students are:
-Encourage contact between student and instructor - if they communicate early and often we can usually overcome the obstacles that may come up
-Encourage active learning - students need to apply critical thinking more often
-Provide prompt feedback - if the student knows where they stand, what is expected, and what needs to be done they are more likely to respond and succeed
-Communicate high expectations - students need to know they need to produce good work not simply do the minimum to get by - remind them this is their career not just a class
Miriam,
You are right. If you want students to improve, you have to provide timely feedback. They should not have to guess where they stand in their learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
When it comes to the Seven Principles of Learning, they are all vital components in the process of successful education at all levels. Consequently, when asked what principles of learning are the most important when it comes to my online classes, it becomes a real test to identify three that I deem the most important. However, in so doing, I would select the following: (1) encourage contact between students and the instructor; (2) encourage active learning; and (3) provide prompt feedback.
Contact between students and the instructor opens the door to perhaps the most important aspect of learning, open communication. Solid marriages and great learning environments focus on a high quality communicative process.
Encouraging active learning allows the instructor to demonstrate to the students that there is a strong connection between the entire course content and real-life application. It answers the question: “Is what I am learning going to be of use to me in my life and/or in my career?â€
Relative to the last of my choices, providing prompt feedback, a well-timed and consistent feedback denotes respect for students; and it encourages them to seriously pursue knowledge relative to the course. Hopefully, students see their efforts as a partnership with the instructor who really cares about their success.
Mary,
What a great post. I particularly appreciate your last comment on well-timed and consistent feedback denotes respect for students. I do think we forget that as educators sometimes.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think the 7 for sure, but what I really think is important in the online environment, is to have great communication skills first. It is not like being F2F in a classroom, we have to be able to make sure that the students understand everything there is to know about the assignment. How we communicate that is critical to the success of the student. I don't assume that the assignment directions are enough. I elaborate on the assignments with chat sessions, announcements and e-mail. Maybe this is over communication, but I have never had a student tell me that I was not providing enough information. I also think that being open, honest and respectful is important. When students feel that they can discuss classroom issues with me, then they are more likely to do so, and get there issues resolved.
Mary,
I could not agree with you more, when it comes to feedback. Everyone needs feedback, and it should be clear enough so the student knows exactly what they did that was well, and also what areas they need to improve in.
Dale,
I agree with you. In fact, my changes in communication in the online environment has changed the way I approach my f2f courses. My changes in my online courses has always improved my f2f courses.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dale,
Like I said, I will not be grading this fall I will be providing feedback to my students.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The principles that I strongly believe are most important for my own online teaching are:
Full participation in online class interaction.
Ability you manage one's time.
Thanks,
Victor
Victor,
You said a screen full! Time management is such a problem in both online and f2f classes. With lives so busy, it has to be a priority. We also have to teach our students that learning does take some time or we don't retain it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Jack,
I partially agree:
I agree that well written TCOs should give a student an idea of why the learning matters.
On the other hand though, the reality is that TCOs really only say what knowledge and skills that a student should be considered responsible for at the end of a course (or on a smaller scale unit).
For example, at a couple of schools that I teach at the TCOs list knowing and being able to identify Grice's principles of communication as well as violations of these principles as objectives for the course.
That said, I as the teacher still have to actually share with them how they could actually apply this knowledge for their own advantage-- and this happens to differ between the two schools/professions.
Teaching is a complex, multifaceted activity, often requiring us as instructors to juggle multiple tasks and goals simultaneously and flexibly. The following small but powerful set of principles can make teaching both more effective and more efficient, by helping us create the conditions that support student learning and minimize the need for revising materials, content, and policies. While implementing these principles requires a commitment in time and effort, it often saves time and energy later on. Effective teaching involves
1) Acquiring relevant knowledge about students and using that knowledge to inform our course design and classroom teaching.
2) Aligning the three major components of instruction: learning objectives, assessments, and instructional activities.
3) Articulating explicit expectations regarding learning objectives and policies.
4) Prioritizing the knowledge and skills we choose to focus on.
5) Recognizing and overcoming our expert blind spots.
6) Adopting appropriate teaching roles to support our learning goals.
7) Progressively refining our courses based on reflection and feedback.
David,
That is true! You have to teach in context of the course and/or the program. There may be a different vision of the progrom that could change the environment or context of the course. It can't be easy teaching the same principle, differently
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Vimlarani,
Those principles are great. They are really steps in the learning process that helps "close the loop" in learning which includes assessment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I agree with you and find that with constant effort to engage students regularly with both myself and other students, the tendency is to get more involved in the entire classroom process. As you say, this is the result of the different type of education online offers, but can mean, to some, less attention to time management and as a result, less effort. The more they engage, the more they seem to enjoy the participation as a class, and strive to show that they are learning, and have ideas and conclusions based on hearing from others, then researching for their own participation.
Steven,
I agree with you. This is really no difference in delivery; the more engaged students the better the outcome for the student. Time management is still such a problem for all students in any delivery modality.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe that understanding the expectations, interaction with other students and the instructor, and being responsible are the most important. I try to emphasize to students that interacting with one another is so very important. Even though it is an online course, to me, the networking and support is just a valuable as it is on-ground matriculating with others.
I agree with being there as a guide and facilitator. Oftentimes, that role extends to being a life coach as well. Many students do not realize that instructors are also overwhelmed with their day-to-day events. Therefore, students seem to feel that it is "ok" to give out the intricate, private details of their lives (which is not wanted). I'm not sure if its to generate sympathy for falling short on a task, or if they really believe that this is part of the online experience.
I believe that presence is the most important. When my students know that I am available for them in and outside of class they feel connected and do well. I show my presence in emails, timely feedback, grading. etc.
