I was most intrigued by the idea of a 'dynamic syllabus'; I think often we build our syllabus completely & then put it to the side until we need to reference something or we get of "schedule".
The course syllabus serves as a roadmap for the student to identify the course information such as a detailed outline and a summary of the course. It helps in identifying the sources of references used in the course including the background information about the professor.
The instructional delivery method for a course describes how the teacher will offer a course. Effective communication is essential. Students have to understand the instructions clearly.
Make the syllabus dynamic by asking students for feedback. Use tools to make classes engaging and collaborative. Allow them to present ideas anonymously.
I learnt about the importance of building on line community using various web tools. I will certainly use them next time in my classes.
I have learnt about creating a dynamic syllabus, online learning community, scaffolding and using effective communication.
What I liked and eager to implement is applying the concept of scaffolding to make learning for the students more effective.
Hello,
I learned a lot in this module, interactive syllabus is something I definitively I will apply on my online courses. Another important thing I learned is that we can use a lot of different web tools to create and guide an online community.
I really liked this module
Kind regards
A facilitator needs to be imaginative, and creative, and have an impressive online presence to successfully facilitate an online course for today's students. In the current online learning environment (also known as e-learning), faculty need to create a safe, nonjudgmental environment where views, perspectives, and personal and professional experiences are encouraged in order to meaningfully engage students and keep them inspired while delivering the necessary course material. In order to further improve the learning process, the educator must model an educator-facilitated active, student-centered learning process in which students are held responsible for their active involvement and self-directed learning while performing a facilitator role.
In an online learning setting, scaffolding refers to the technological aids teachers or instructors offer. These educators will make use of a range of technical resources and technologies that might help them in their teaching. Learners can benefit in the same ways: they may use the online classroom to interact with others while having their facilitators periodically check on their progress. However, in order to prevent pupils from becoming discouraged if they don't learn, such a strategy needs a systematic guideline. Because of this, online educators must effectively scaffold lessons in accordance with students' needs.
Conceptual scaffolding, procedural scaffolding, strategic scaffolding, and metacognitive scaffolding are the four forms of scaffolding that are often used in online learning, with the latter type receiving the most attention in previous studies. Technology also plays a significant role; instructors may fully utilize technology resources to help both their teaching and the academic progress of their pupils. Additionally, it goes without saying that instructional designs are crucial to ensuring that scaffolding is successful in online learning. The success of online learning can be influenced by these appropriate instructional aids.
First of all, we need to have a dynamic syllabus. A syllabus is updated and should represent the dynamism of the course.
We must involve the students in the course using different educational tools, motivate them regularly and insert them into a real group life of learners on a given theme
From the text, it is clear that creating an online learning community involves more than just providing access to information and technology tools. Students must establish a sense of belonging and identify a purpose for belonging to the community. Effective communication is also essential for the success of the student, and the instructor needs to pay particular attention to the communication of each individual student and the group. It is important to provide opportunities for communication and collaboration, both synchronous and asynchronous, through tools such as chat rooms, discussion boards, wikis, and blogs. Sustaining an online learning community involves developing forums in which students feel comfortable sharing ideas, opinions, and facts with others, and where they work collaboratively to reconceptualize the course content. In addition, it is important to use a variety of communication and collaboration tools to keep students engaged and connected, both within and outside the course module or LMS.
Dear colleagues,
This topic made me reflect on the importance of having a good communication policy within my courses.
I intend to apply this to promote richer communication through the discussion forums I post in my courses.
Regards.
"Respect Begets Respect"
I love this line "Respect for all participants and the instructor should be at the top of the guidelines", coming from the lesson, Using Effective Communication. As instructors we have to ensure an environment that's safe for our students, especially when it is the online environment where control and discipline is very challenging.
So how do we guarantee that there will be no bullying, stalking, and inappropriate language used in the online platform?
1. There should be clear instruction and guidelines regarding allowed language.
2. There should be close monitoring of student discussions, forums, and places of engagement.
3. Call out the attention of students who doesn't follow guidelines of respect towards each other.
This shows that the instructor, although given independence and leeway to student expressions and engagements in the platform, is still very much involved in the process and his present is felt all throughout.
I think I learned that creating an interactive environment for students to learn was important, as well as scaffolding and chunking.
This module taught me that scaffolding involves building on prior knowledge and experiences to develop more complex learning structures. I have also learned that providing clear instructions, clarifying purpose, keeping students on task, offering assessment, directing students to worthy sources, reducing uncertainty and disappointment, delivering efficiency, and creating momentum are important tasks for instructors to ensure that students are building appropriate scaffolding.
To apply these concepts, I can use these strategies when designing an online course or teaching online. Using a consistent course framework, providing clear instructions, and directing students to appropriate sources, I can help students build strong scaffolds supporting their learning. Additionally, I can focus on using technology to enhance learning rather than relying solely on technology to deliver content. By continually assessing student progress and adjusting instruction as needed, I can ensure that students effectively scaffold their learning and achieve their learning objectives.
In this 2nd module of this course, I got more conscientious about the importance that the Online Course Syllabus has over the flat Online Course Syllabus and the fact that this option has to be a constantly modifying document to provide with material updates in a dynamic way helping the students to have a single repository of information saving time and providing direction when they try to get specific information.
I will make sure all resources are updated to keep Online Course Syllabus as it should be, a useful tool in online environment.
Regarding, engagement and collaboration, incentive our students to participate is crucial but also having a good class and content is critical to get to audience participating actively and interested. In order to do so, I will use all the different effective communication methods provided in this module.
Thank you
A few key takeaways:
Creating a good learning scaffolding involves providing a structure to support students in their learning journey. This involves breaking down complex concepts into manageable chunks, providing opportunities for practice and feedback, and building on prior knowledge. Scaffolding can be done through various methods such as visual aids, graphic organizers, and interactive activities. A good learning scaffolding helps students stay engaged, motivated and helps them acquire new skills and knowledge effectively. It also encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning by setting achievable goals and reflecting on their progress.
In addition, effective communication is essential for student success in any learning environment. It involves creating an environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, asking questions, and collaborating with their peers. Effective communication can be achieved through various methods such as clear instructions, active listening, providing feedback, and encouraging open discussions. Leveraging on web-based tools can also create an online learning community, where students can communicate and collaborate with their peers and instructors outside the classroom.
Lastly, web-based tools such as discussion forums, chat rooms, and video conferencing can also provide opportunities for students to share resources, work on projects together, and support each other's learning. Overall, effective communication and leveraging on web-based tools can create a supportive learning environment that fosters student engagement and success.
My key takeaway in this module is the importance of being dynamic.
First, a syllabus, since it is important, should be dynamic: it should be designed in such a way that students can have access it. IT should be dynamic across time, as materials may be added, edited, or rearranged throughout the course. Lastly, it must be dynamic through responses to student comments.
After the syllabus, you need to create an online learning community and you must be dynamic here more than ever. Though interacting through content and resources, e-communities are primarily, groups of individuals INTERACTING. Students must establish a sense of belonging and identify a purpose for belonging to the community. As such, they must be dynamic.
With everything dynamic, as teachers, we must ensure effective communication marked by participation, anonymity, collaboration, realism, giving credit, among others.
Lastly, because it is dynamic, it should be simple and understandable enough to give students the scaffolds they need to learn.
As a future online teacher, I will surely use this, especially since my approaches are student centric and highly interactive.
Use appropriate tools to deliver instructions and support students.
What I have learned from this lesson are - the students can get a thorough overview of the course through the syllabus.
These offer spaces for students to build relationships with others and collaborate on projects or tasks in an online learning community. Also, there should be clear rules for using the different communication tools. Lastly, as students construct their learning scaffolding, effective communication can reveal when they are deceiving one another and themselves.
This second lesson examines the importance of a well-designed syllabus and innovative and efficient methods for establishing and growing an online community. A dynamic syllabus makes it easier for students to find course information. It provides an opportunity for professors and students to work together to learn. Even when learning is not always face-to-face, a well-designed and managed online community allows teachers and students to communicate, learn from one another, and reap the benefits of a traditional class. As instructors, they are required to be creative while also establishing rapport through good communication and scaffolding.
