Hello, All.

I found it very interesting to read and learn all about techniques to engage online students in EL113. However, in the back of my mind, I also wondered about the instructor. What happens when an instructor has been teaching the same material online for years? How can an institution engage the instructor? Or how can the instructor liven up the course to re-engage him/herself? I'm curious to know your thoughts. 

Stacie Chambers

This course is presenting some great ideas to brqanch out from the "canned" course material. Using some different techniques can make the learning not only benefical, but also fun.  If the students can have some fun at learning, this will make them more willing to engage. Any thoughts?

I already use a lot of the tips that were provided.

I find that some students  shut down because General Ed courses are not fun or valued like their major courses. In their other courses they may not be required to write many essays or conduct research but in English these factors are necessary to be successful in the course.

For instance, in other courses since they don't use Turn it In so they don't like to use for my English course. So I try to be encouraging by consistently offering assistance and web links that will assist them with… >>>

The class was instrumental and helpful in inspiring me to create an online course.

To plans into action at my school!

We need to find better ways to extend technology in to the classroom.

I feel it is important for the students to have the instructors support along with the lesson.

I love teaching. I don't have anything profound to add to your collective experiences, but in my experience, finding ways to make your students trust and respect you accelerate their interest and success dramatically.

A key take away from this course is that I will post an announcement at the beginning of each term discussing active learning and the students and my roles and responsibilites to the prcocess.

I strive to keep up with technology by using Lynda.com and other online resources. These help me learn how to teach others software too.

I have found that online learning is similar in many ways to actual classroom learning. There are many benefits as well as some drwabacks to online learning. I find it hard to stay engaged and follow up on the discussions that are happening over a period of time. I have to find a way to be more scheduled and regular with the times I am participating. I like that I can participate at virtually anytime I choose though. 

Differention of instruction is easy if you DO get a short 'bio' of the student and BUILD on their experience. 

Students feel flattered by being singled out and the learning becomes more personal.

Whatever experience a student has (military, a summer job, etc.) is a great way to make the material relevant to THEM and THEIR needs. 

Hello, 

I find that timely communication is also the key to ensure positive communication outcomes with students. Although sometimes the response is not always positive students appreciate receiving timely feedback. Grading rubrics help with providing a clear understanding of the expectations and typically assist in the students understanding of what is expected. Rubrics also assist faculty in being consistent with feedback. 

I found that I could implement most of my active learning practices from the classroom into a remote situation with some slight adaptations.  Keeping an open mind and collaborating with other instructors is very beneficial.  I utilize "breaking into groups for collaboration" often.  If you do this intermittently through your course material, it helps to break it down into manageable chunks for the student.  It keeps it from being and/or seeming so overwhelming. 

Great information that all instructors should know and utilize. I plan on sharing this with my SME/Instructors for increased active learning on their courses.

Timely feedback to students

Checking in Daily

Be available and approachable online and off to students

Currently, my action plan is to continue in course design using concepts such as Backward Design by Wiggins and McTighe, student engagement and learning techniques by Marzono, and assessment of learning and for learning by P. Black, as well as RJ Stiggins.

The concepts used to construct a F2F course and an online course are the same.  Start with the learning outcomes, what do you what students to know and be able to do, and build from there.  Choices made in content delivery, student engagement, and assessments are all designed to achieve the learning outcome.  Whether it is online or F2F the process is the same and the options are the same, what choices we make depends much upon the outcomes, the content, and the instructor's teaching style.  What many need to consider is the variable of student learning styles.  This is… >>>

I really enjoyed learning how to incorpporate the active learning module into my course. This course also provided great examples for me to follow and explained how to utilize the items so that I am a more effective instructor. I feel more inclined to try to utilize more active learning techniques especially in my discussion board which sometimes needs a little more engagement and participation from the student. 

I plan to use the revision techniques discussed in this course to improve my own teaching performance in the classes I teach.  While it has obvious use in designing courses, the class was also valuable as a means of improving ones own teaching performance.