There is no right or wrong way to teach your class. Finding the best method that works for you and your students is important. You have to learn to adapt, not everyone learns the same way.
The most important thing that I learned in identifying facilitation methods is that there is no right or wrong way to teach. The student is responsible for their own learning.
When I was a student, I never enjoyed discussion boards. Instructors should make sure to teach students how to respond to a discussion board. Make sure they know what is expected in response to questions or in posting a question.
I intend to focus in on engagement and a student-centered classroom environment.
From this topic, I’ve learned that being a facilitator in an online course means shifting from the “sage on the stage” to the “guide on the side,” where the focus is on guiding students to take responsibility for their own learning. This involves wearing many hats—instructor, social director, program manager, and technical assistant—while creating a learner-centered environment with clear expectations and timely, meaningful feedback. I plan to apply this by structuring my courses with problem-based learning, encouraging collaboration, and making sure my communication is clear and supportive so students stay engaged and motivated in the virtual space.
I learned that the more organized you are and how to information is delivered, the smoother the class will go.
The more time you spend organizing, the less chaos you will have in the class.
I learned teaching strategies that promote student engagement, establishing clear expectations, and the effective use of synchronous and asynchronous learning methods for student success.
I believe If you're in person and in class learning room is on point then the online content and learning should be easy, I feel that when you earn your students respect, they will follow your lead online and participate 100%
Facilitating student engagement is important. Engaging students in the beginning is helpful. Providing concise direction and support will help students.
I learned about the importance of keeping student engaged through open discussions and engaging questions that are planned in a way that facilitates learning. I plan on using a survey of my presentations to help me relect on the students perspective.
Maintaining student engagement during online lectures can be challenging; however, when students are consistently engaged, it greatly improves the overall flow and effectiveness of the class, leading to a more productive and interactive learning experience for everyone involved. Consistent engagement fosters participation and helps keep students focused and motivated.
Comment on Raisah Thomas's post:
I completely agree! Centering the course around the learner shifts the focus from simply delivering content to actually fostering meaningful learning experiences. One strategy I’ve found useful is incorporating short reflection checkpoints throughout the course, where students share what’s working for them and what isn’t. This feedback helps me adjust the course in real time and also informs how I revise the course for future terms.
How do you typically gather and use student feedback to shape your facilitation or course design? I’d love to hear about any tools or techniques that have worked well for you.
Comment on Sondra Gentry's post:
You're right—setting clear expectations from the start is key to creating a productive and respectful online learning environment. I’ve found that embedding expectations not just in the syllabus, but also within weekly announcements, rubrics, and even discussion board prompts, helps reinforce them consistently. It’s also helpful to model the tone and quality of communication I expect by responding to students in a way that’s clear, encouraging, and professional.
Have you ever used a communication rubric or contract at the start of the course to help set the tone? I’m considering implementing one to support students who are new to online learning and could use extra structure.
This module reinforced the idea that teaching online is more than delivering content—it's about creating an intentional, student-centered environment where engagement and communication are at the core. I especially appreciated the breakdown of the four roles an online instructor must play: instructor, social director, program manager, and technical assistant. It helped me reflect on where I feel strong and where I need to grow.
One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of timely, personalized, and constructive feedback. I plan to make my feedback more consistent, not just on grades but in discussion boards and peer interactions, to keep students connected and supported. I also intend to refine my syllabus to clearly set expectations for communication and engagement upfront, to prevent confusion and reduce repetitive emails.
Moving forward, I want to experiment with blending synchronous and asynchronous approaches more intentionally. I’ll use synchronous sessions for community-building and support, and asynchronous modules for deeper, self-paced learning. I’m excited to try more problem-based, authentic learning opportunities and look at evaluations as a tool for continuous improvement—not just a formality.
What’s one facilitation strategy that’s worked well for you in online teaching that you think more instructors should try?
I like the contrasts covered between the Sage on the Stage vs. the Guide on the Side.
It is very important to evaluate and motivate students and to keep them active.
review of types of teaching.
our students deserves our guidance across the course, even if they are doing something asynchrony
