Using a variety of media strategies can keep students engaged, and making connections with other students is also important in the online community.

I learned that an effective online course should have structural integrity, simple navigation, learner-centered activities, and meaningful intellectual interaction. As an instructor, I plan to apply these principles by organizing course content clearly, making resources easy to locate, and using engaging activities such as case studies, discussions, real-world examples, and collaborative problem-solving. I will also encourage regular interaction between students and with me as the instructor so that students feel connected, engaged, and actively involved in their learning.

The course syllabus is important to provide an overview of the course, along with expectations. Feedback is vital in ensuring that students are on the right track with their learning.

Both asynchronous and synchronous learning require structure and organization.  Having a variety of methods keeps students engaged, but those assignments need to be relevant and help to reinforce what students need to learn. 

Being a good communicator is vital when dealing with people. It is an important skill to have because without it you may not go far in your career. It is important to be able to communicate as well as listen to those around you. 

Integrated learning helps promote critical thinking and problem solving as well as better understanding of what is being taught

Learning trades online has come a long way! It has it's time and place just as much as in person learning. For many students, online learning opens up opportunities for them to actually go back to school and fit into their schedule. 

What I take from this is that we need to show up so that our students can show up. It is important that the instructor models the classroom the way they want the students to.

It is important to have structural integrity that is user-friendly defining clear expectations, learning objectives, etc., and that navigating a course is just as important. Providing a variety of learning experiences is also important in allowing students to engage in course assignments - always keeping them guessing and excited for learning.

There are so many customer relations and problem solving skills that are required in a trade. Effective communication from pricing, design, etc. is so important.