One of the biggest challenges my students seem to be facing is group work. Most seem to understand how to do the group work, but the problem is that there are some students who either aren't participating at all in their group or are only participating in a minimal capacity. This causes the students who are handling most of the work to become nervous about their grade and resentful toward the non-participating students. I know a lot of instructors base their grade on the group as a whole, but I don't feel that the hardworking students should lose points because some of their fellow group members are slacking off. However, that does add more difficulty to the grading process. Any thoughts?

One of the biggest problems I've had in my course is students using text speak (lol, ttyl, gr8t) in their writing assignments. I've told them not to use it, but I've never actually written it down in a communication code of conduct. That's a great idea from this course, and I plan to have a communication code of conduct for all my future classes.

I teach at a two-year career college, and we are required to have students submit their research papers via a website called Turnitin. This is supposed to check for plagiarism in each student's paper. However, I've had a lot of bad luck with it, and students' and other teachers' feedback mirrors my own. Do any of you have experience with Turnitin? Do you have any tips on making it more user-friendly and useful in general?

I teach for an online career college, and I have found that one of my bigger challenges is to get the students to engage with each other. I had one class in particular that did a great job with this, and I could see that it made such an improvement on everyone's performance. I was wondering if anyone had tried to use Facebook as a tool to get classes talking to each other. How did you set it up? How did it work? Would you recommend it? Thanks!

At the start of each course that I teach, on-site or online, I always lay out a comprehensive guide of course expectations. We spend the first lecture discussing the expectations and I send students home with a print version. One of the big sections in the lecture is "Respect in the Classroom." This is a theme that I mention sporadically throughout the course. I try my very best to maintain a positive an encouraging learning environment. I always explain to the students that they need to be professional in what they are doing/saying and that if they violate this, they will receive a grade penalty. We often work on Persuasive research papers which is something that we take some time to address during the "Respect" lecture. I always explain that we're dealing with controversial topics, and as such, not everyone will agree. I caution students that if they do not agree with someone, it is best to move on and comment on the next paper. I explain that they can comment on anything as long as it has to do with the writing itself, and that they should leave their personal views at the door. There is more to it than that, but this is something I feel is very important to maintain in the classroom. It is something that should be mentioned in every online course.

It is in my best interest as an instructor to keep up with technology. My students sometimes are much more advanced in the techno world.

One thing most of my students have in common is a thirst for knowledge. Otherwise . . . The general age range is from late teens to late 60's/early 70's. Some have been working with computers for years, others acquired their first computers when they signed up for online classes. Education levels go from GED to working on a second or third degrees,due to career changes or returning to school after being out of the education system for years. The list of differences could go on and on. By far, by teaching on line, I am working with the most diverse groups of people I have ever had in "one" classroom. In my classes, students are required to introduce themselves within the first few weeks of class. This has provided a starting point for general student initiated "let's help each other out" communities in various classes. Not only are the more technology aware students helping others, but advice has been flowing in other areas also - such as job search and child care. Mostly, all I have done is encourage communcation, so classes can run more smoothly; the students have done the rest. (Granted, this does not happen in all classes.) I am contantly amazed at the willingness of students to help each other out.

It may seem to go without saying, however it must be said; faculty need a Code of Conduct too! SOmetimes we need to remind our faculty that there are proper and unacceptable ways to interact with students online. For example it is not acceptable to discipline a student in a discussion forum in front of all other students. Once it's out there...it's out there! The thing about the INternet is that once something is on the Internet it never goes away, and being on an online environment you cannot take something back. I believe instructors and faculty should be required to go through an orientation of whet Netiquette and Code of Conduct are in an online platform and what as a College we expect and are willing to support, or not, once it's "out there".

I never thought of it until taking this course, but Netiquette is something I am now going to write into our Intro. course. We've had some issues with students who have really gone off the deep end and made racial comments and told some hazing stories that really offended other students. Those students then complained to the school. One student even felt afraid. One thing we do not have in place is a Netiquette Guide but I am going to write one now. Thanks to this course I now have the idea. I would like to learn more in depth about this. Any advice?

This is the first time I've managed a learning program in an online environment. It has been very challenging trying to seperate what students need between academics and technology. When they say they don't understand something we have to ensure whther they are referring to the topic and content itself, or the way in which it is being delivered. Because the student is not right in front of us to see whether the knowledge connection is taking place, we have to dig deeper for knowledge acquisition. It has been a challenge and because we do not use testing it adds an even deeper dynamic.

Why is it important to understand the role generations play in communication in the online community?

Why is it important to understand the role generations play in communication in the online community?

What do you think is the role of a rubric?

What do you think is the role of a rubric?

When establishing a pattern of communication, what do you believe are the two most important things to consider and why?

When establishing a pattern of communication, what do you believe are the two most important things to consider and why?

When assessing the use of technology communication tools in a virtual learning environment, what do you believe are the three most important things to consider and why?

When assessing the use of technology communication tools in a virtual learning environment, what do you believe are the three most important things to consider and why?