Teaching online education today plays a role in the personal and professional lives of the student. The student now has the convenience and flexibility to realize personal goals of a degree that was not obtainable in the traditional classroom due to the time constraints between work and family. Class takes place to fit the student’s schedule. Further, classes lean towards areas that can be applied to the student’s work environment while following the textbook. Real world experience and the classroom blend together in the online environment. Students share their work related experiences and apply them to the textbook. The asynchronous teaching environment includes the quality of the learning environment, the level of communication and the changing role of the teacher in the learning experience.

I really like using rubrics but I don't like the "band wagon" approach that every student activity needs a rubric or that one great rubric should be used for every assignment, i believe that different learning activities require specific rubrics. If done en mass, we may as well simply use "Meets all expectations, meets some expectations and meets few expectations." What do others think?

While the main goal for each student is to learn the fundamental course content, the specific content of the course may be forgotten. The acquisition of these necessary skills will continue to support the intellectual growth of the students long into the future.

I believe that my role as an educator is one of a guide, pointing students in the direction they will need to explore to find answers and solve problems. By instructors acting as mentors and friends to students, the students can begin to make professional contacts, find professors to aid in career plans and use for recommendations, and have an academic source to call upon when stresses of classes begin to be overwhelming.

Synchronous learning is a great element, but personally I do not think it should be a graded requirement as this contradicts the advantage of taking classes in an online environment and the flexibility that it offers.

When I first started teaching online it required a basic understanding of HTML to set up the online classroom. Now video is a common component and everything is done by simply clicking and dragging. Unfortunately some schools are complete missing the mark and going in reverse as they are changing the platform without first testing it, and leaving out the most important tool which is streaming video.

At the end of each course, we do online surveys. This gives our school idea of where we can improve.

When a student is not passing, I ask that instructor to send out a plan of action form. It is a contract for the student to understand what is happening to his or her grade.

All my instructors give detailed information on their syllabi. I make sure it is clearly labeled and the objectives are stated.

I think the announcement feature is important when getting out new information online. I encourage my staff to post information all the time

Each semester I have a couple of students who give excuses on poor performance online. We have plan of actions forms given to those students to work out a goal to improve that student's grade.

I find that the asynchronous discussions are much more engaging then the synchronous chats. I have seen what students posts and it's very impressive to see how they interact with one another. The synchronous chat seem to drag on and in some cases no one seems to show up?

I encourage my staff email students as soon as possible. I want the students to feel as if the online instructor is right there. I ask all my instructors to answer their students within 2 hours of a response.

When I structure my courses on blackboard, I make sure all the tabs are the same. I provide a technical support tab for those students who need help as well.

It is so important to understand the personalities or your students. This will help you know how to communicate and share information with your students.

What are the steps to take to get a good grade

When the content of the course is out of your hands, how do you go about revising its content and delivery?

Aside from using your knowledge and textbook to provide feedback, what other resources or methods have you found to be helpful in providing meaningful feedback?

Have any of you had the experience where your institution gave you a pre-made syllabus, and you had input and feedback concerning the improvement of the syllabus? How did you go about doing this?

This unit, on technology tools, brings to my mind the term Digital Citizenship! According to Terri Heick (Director of TeachThought) the definition of digital citizenship is “the self-monitored habits that sustain and improve the digital communities you enjoy or depend on." The characteristics of students in this digital age (digital citizens) are numerous. Some of those that I find to be of applicable to this unit on technology tools are: 1. Include all who wish to join. A wiki would allow this to occur. 2. Disseminate useful information. A digital portfolio would enable this to occur. 3. Create. A student could create through a blog, wiki, videocast, or podcast... just to name a few. It is amazing to me to think that just over a decade ago I would not of considered such a term as Digital Citizenship! Terry Stanley