The three most important considerations are (in my opinion): 1) Are the tools used user friendly, can someone with a high school degree understand how to use the technology with a minimum degree of effort or within a couple of hours training? 2) Can older students who may be retooling their job skills make use of the technology with minimum assistance to mitigate any hesitancy with respect to being part of an online class? 3) Have I had the necessary training to make use of the up-to-date requirements/technology that is a fundamental part of the course and is expected to… >>>

As much as I think the discussion threads are a wonderful means for all to communication within the online class setting, I also feel they pose a lot of challenges. As the instructor, I have often find it difficult to engage the students in a conversation. I find a lot of learners come in to the discussion, post what they are required for the week then never return. In an effort to deter this type of behavior, I now include in my class policies that I may ask questions in response to their discussion posts. They should respond to these… >>>

There are many benefits that adult students receive from a collaborative learning environment. These benefits include; both the facilitator and the students becoming part of the educational experience - instead of the instructor being the “sage on the stage”, knowledge is created and shared amongst the students – instead of being passed on by the instructor, and a sense of ownership and pride is shared by the adult students. When students play a role in creating and sharing the knowledge amongst themselves, they have a higher retention rate of the material. This is accomplished because students end up having an… >>>

When creating a rubric, I would share my expectations for quality work in the area of content when giving assignments by sharing the rubric with my students from the beginning of class. I would also post any rubrics that are going to be needed in the class the day before the class starts. I would encourage students to ask any questions that they have regarding the assignment and the rubric before starting their assignment. Disclosure of expectations benefits me and my students because it gives my students the ability to know what I am looking for in the content of… >>>