Evaluations are a key to a students success as grades now play such a large role in the jobs they gain. Should evaluations be easier to help the student succeed?

What is the most important feature of feedback do you think? do students really read what we write?

Online resources may include a discussion board, email, chat rooms, etc. What is the most important online resource you use?

The course framework is the road map for course development. What are the most important factors to have in your course road map for optimum student learning?

Managing the e-learner environment involves consistent review of assignments, constant communication, and student outreach. This way you are more aware of what your students need and how to best capture their attention.

Engaging learners can be done by incorporating group discussion responses, or activities that require the online learner to work with a partner. This is also achieved by giving the learner freedom to choose research topics, discussion topics, etc.

This can be done by way of using proximity in the classroom. Moving around the room and catching eye contact of your students will help keep them engaged in the lesson.

How flexible do instructors need to be in regards to the timing of their live chat sessions? I tend to like to have my chats during the day on Monday - so that early in the week, students know everything they have to know to complete the assignment. Some students prefer evening chats. I have been known to throw in an extra chat for students that prefer the live chat in the evening? Your thoughts?

Do you think it is important to send personalized emails to each student during week one as well as respond to their introductions in the classroom? Why is this extra effort on the part of the online professor important?

Do you believe that the length of the course impacts the students engagement? What do you believe is the optimum time for a course to last in the online environment?

There have been times when a student will make sure they find fault with another's posts and they have to make sure they bring it to their attention in the discussion forums. In addition, they also need to post i.e. "did you mean ______" and it was a word that was misspelled by me, the instructor. In attempting to ask for courtesy and respect to all and not be negative the student became even more confrontagious and claimed my tone was inappropriate. As an instructor I could not wait for this class to be over and for the student to move on. What I do not understand is how these students progress in any program and are not counseled by advisors to stop this type of negative interaction and help them understand how this is going to affect their place in any work environment.

I have yet to find the best way to get student's to write substantial discussion posts and engage in meaningful responses. I go as far as telling them that they are not gaining anything if the simply agree and don't challange each other. Can you give me some examples and pointers on how to get the student's better involved with the discussion board? Looking forward to hearing form you, Daron A. Collins

How are some ways that a teacher can add creativity and learning enhancement to a ready-made course module?

Every corner of the globe will one day be accessible by a single keystroke. The known world has become closer through the technological linkage with language less of a barrier. Technology has converted many activities of life. It is communication, socialization, entertainment, work, a friend and a teacher. As online education matures and learns from experience so too does classroom technology . Since a degree program is as much about learning from an academic standpoint as it is professional development, it makes sense to treat the encounter from the latter perspective (at least as far as team development). One faculty members names groups in the folloiwing manner: • EMEM (“Peace” in Efik-a language of Nigeria) • HETEP (“Peace” in the language of the Egyptian) • KAREENAN (“Peace” in Pangasinan-a language of the Philippines) • KUTHALA (“Peace” in Swati-the language of Swaziland) • MAGOGOSO (“Peace” in Roviana-a language of the Solomon Islands) • SATTA (“Peace” in Jamaican Creole) • SIPALA (“Peace” in the language of the Hopi Tribe of North America) Of course, the students do not know the word meaning until after group grades go out…but this is good KARMA!

Generation X & Y and Millenials are offsprings of a digital birth, a fast-paced childhood, and a solitary existence strive to utilize its skills and creativity to control their environments. The solitary nature of life is both increased and decreased with each computer link. The known world has become closer through the technological linkage. Students are drawn in by the sights and sounds of the AIU Online classroom. The layout is slick, professional and visually stimulating. Do your announcements, chats, and emails fit in? Online students are most likely heavy internet and computer users and their visual tastes have been molded by the activity. Creating announcements that look and sound like webpages is appealing to students.

Creativity is thought to be a foundation skill in effective leaders. Creative leaders are able to solve problems that have plagued an organization and successfully navigate the unexpected --“someone who can see old problems in new ways and new problems with fresh perspectives.” Creativity is derived from the socio-cultural environment, personality, and motivational variables. A creative instructor is one is does not focus on barriers, but can smooth the journey across stumbling blocks. Teaching creativity fosters engagement in the learning process. Students who are actively learning and are satisfied with the quality of contact in the classroom are more likely to remain. Focusing on creativity in student assignments has been found to elicit a higher level of concept application with regard to making connections between diverse information and new contexts.

Can online facilitation improve teaching skills in the traditional class room? I have made profound changes in my traditional class room due to my experience in online teaching and to taking these CEE courses.

Due to the lack of face-to-face interaction online (unless you have the ability to capture lessons and/or Skype, of course), students will read into the design of the typeface that you use. Interested in alienanting them all in one fell swoop? Use something visually heavy and angular such as "Impact." Want to be mistaken for passive and childish? Aim for "Kristen ITC" or any other font that looks like a child's handwriting. Trying to come across as a professional? Use traditional fonts -- "Times New Roman" and "Courier" are good choices. Finally, if you want to make it look as if everything you say is a suggestion and of little consequence, use "Comic Sans." If you don't believe me, consider the fact that companies spend billions on advertising each year to get our attention and our money. Or, if you're interested, I can point you to the disseration that sucked three years out of my life... ;)

Now that mobile technology is being utilized by students and faculty successfully, what strategy are you using to manage your time? Any tips?

I have taken multiple ground courses and reconfigured for online. I agree with the statement that an online syllabus/course must be more dynamic. In the classroom we have instant feedback to our teaching style, assignments, and participation. Online there is an inherent feedback delay, and shortcomings are often not discovered until the students submit their assignments. I try to keep students on track by providing "Hints Announcements" each week highlighting what the key concepts are for the week. I then reinforce this with the assignments (or vice versa if the assignments are static from the school). Rodney C.