Online discussions among students enable them to vocalize their thoughts and learn from the knowledge shared by other participants in the course. The instructor can facilitate the discussions by intervening when necessary to make sure that students remain respectful to each other and that the discussions are centered around the actual lesson or topic of discussion. Student evaluations of the teacher's performance will vary based on the the expectations they have for their own learning outcomes.

I have learned that an instructor needs to be organized inorder to effectively construct a learning environment and delivery method that best meets the needs of the students whether the course meets synchronously or asynchronously.  I have taken courses both synchronously and asynchronously. I benefited more from the synchronous course because I had to work my schedule around the time the course was being held which lessened procrastination on my part.  Having an instructor that is very organized assures that all of the necessary tools and guidelines are in place will benefit students using either method.

Some instructors are more comfortable in the classroom where they can walk around the room, learn their students personalities and develop a rapport with the students.  These teachers who know their content can develop their own delivery methods without relying on whether or not all students will be able to effectively learn in an online environment or have the prerequisite skills to navigate through the course online. Therefore I agree with you Bonnie that a good treaditional classroom teacher may or may not be as successful in an online environment.

As a technology teacher I enjoyed helping students learn to use technology and apply the lessons learned through hands-on experiences. In this section I agree that the teaching style used can have a great impact on the learning outcomes. When I think of how I learn, I try to put myself in the position of the students with varying learning styles and abilities. Straight lectures can be boring but as a facilitator of the learning I believe that teachers can determine whether or not students are understanding the tasks or the information given. Facilitation allows students can find their own… >>>