Alice Reybitz

Blog

Scaffolding in the ONLINE environment is VITAL...

When you do not have the opportunity to speak in a lecture to your students about the "pearls" they should take from the lesson they are on, scaffolding becomes your means to make sure these ideas are conveyed.

I have many scaffolding tools I have collected over the years with teaching Billing and Coding online, which, I must admit, at one time, I never thought possible. I still would like to see pass rates of online classes compared to on ground classes just to satisfy my own curiosity.

It is important to not limit your tool of use for… >>>

Alice Reybitz

Blog

My Action Plan

Slow down and be sure to understand what is being asked of me. I have noticed on second read, my first impression of the situation was kind of off. By reading a secondtime I save a lot of time.

Alice Reybitz

Blog

Making the students LEADERS FOR A CLASS

Students are told ahead of time when it will be their turn, in addition, they are given the topic to prepare with whatever method they want for a 10 minute teaching time. I have also ued a game called STUMP THE TEACHER with good results in this area.

Alice Reybitz

Blog

I can be more aware of what I can do for my ADA Students

This course has given me some ideas that I believe I can incorporate into my online classroom to make some of the more difficult concepts in medical billing and coding more accessable to all my students. I have a wrottrn transcript with my PowerPoints anyway, Just never thought of uploading both. This has opened my eyes to another way to do things.

Alice Reybitz

Blog Comment

My Action Plan

We are taking this idea a step further and making sure to make not oly a welcome video, but a farewell video that introduces them ti what the next class will cover...tying our objectives to the their significance in the next class.

Alice Reybitz

Discussion Comment

Using Internet and Social Media in the virtual classroom.

Let me say that I for one do not see Social Media as a time waster. Do not get me wrong, it can be. I also believe that we teach our students how to best use this platform, it can serve them so well. I have two Facebook accounts, one for me, mostly for game playing (it does cut down on my stress). AND a professional one. I do not friend my students until they have graduated from their chosen course work. Once I friend them, they are encouraged to network, with other graduates, other professionals on my account, and… >>>

Alice Reybitz

Discussion Comment

Digital Portfolios

While there are many sites with Digital Portfolio Abilities, many of them free. I feel it is extremely important to have a platform easy for your students to access and "play" with. The site chosen should also be user friendly to the instructor as well. The most important thing is that you have "played" with it enough and saved things to your portfolio so you can guide your students through it. I did a simple internet search and found over 20 sites for saving digital portfolios. These were free. For a fee, there were several more. How would you narrow… >>>

Alice Reybitz

Discussion Comment

Discussion Rubrics can sometimes be woefully vague!

I have found that the discussion rubrics in the canned portion of our course can be a bit too vague for fine grading. I have added some rules of my own to the syllabus...for example...one rubric we use states, "original post that answers the question and submitted by Wednesday" 20 points. "two original posts in response to your fellow students that are more in content than 'I agree', 'You are right', etc." 2.5 points a piece. Not quite a clear and concise explanation. SO I add in the syllabus that proper grammar is required. Also, if it is a science… >>>

Alice Reybitz

Discussion Comment

Examples from my career to open discussions!!

I give the good and bad...I have found sometimes that the bad gets them talking...whether it is showing them that they don't have to be perfect or what, I know it works. I will give them what happened, how I handled it and ask them how they would have handled it. This really gets them involved, and honestly, they are thinking through the answers, because if they post before they have thought them through, the other students point out the loopholes... I think these are sometimes the liveliest and sometimes the funniest discussions!

Alice Reybitz

Discussion Comment

Civility and the Online Environment....

I believe civility is important. When you have laid it out in your syllabus, sent out an email with Course Policies and Procedures, reminded them in their Tips for Success each week, what else can you do? You can set an example, even for the angriest student, by keeping your cool and replying in a slow and steady voice...you are setting an example for the netiquette and civility you expect. I believe that the instructor often sets the tone for the class. What kind of tone are you setting for yours?