Engaging Online Learners

Public

Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Julie Ann McEvoy

Providing Skype

Hello,

Just wondered if anyone provides a Skype ID for students to call, if needed. I do provide this, but they never call :)

Julie

Penelope Kerr

Why don't students attend live chats nor watch them?

Why don't students attend live chats and why do so few of them watch the recorded chats. I cover all topics for the learning module and give a plethera of websites so they may use them for continued learning.

Best Regards,

Penelope A. Kerr

Ashley Boyd

Communication in Online Learning

I am an exclusive online instructor. I welcome each of my students into the program via telephone once I receive notification of a new student, and follow up with them weekly (either through telephone or email) to ensure they don't feel alone in the program.

I do notice that a few of my students won't contact me if they have questions. I explain to them from the get-go that since we are entirely online, I am unable to look across a classroom for visual cues that a student may be struggling with a concept (or just needs the concept explained a different way). When I do finally get the students to open up they apolgize for not asking sooner because they never want to bother me.

I have tried telling the students that it isn't a bother, I am here to help them, and that their tuition includes my guidance and expertise.

Has anyone else had issues with this kind of reaction in an online course? If so, what are some tips that have worked for you in the past?

Doris Klein

Online Learning

I find the course interesting in that online learning is in essence, the collection of data that is gathered while learners are engaging in the online experience. This course allowed me to view online learning as an opportunity to enhance student performance. I have learned that fewer learners will drop out or fail if the instructor keeps the student engaged with the online learning process. If a learner isn't faring well throughout the course, then he/she is less likely to be motivated to remain enrolled. As a result, a learner will simply stop participating. Your thoughts?

David Goodman

Multiple means of presenting knowledge

We know that even healthy people acquyire and process information and knowledge differenty. We need to provide information visually as well as in narrative form. Headings and excellent organization of material will help those who need accommodation.

Dale Mancini

Online...or not?

Is it possible to have an online enviornemt for every degree program? Or are there some programs that it would be impossible to complete online?

Francis O'Connell CHEP

Games used as study guides

I would like to develop more for my classes in this area. I think with todays students a way of utilizing study guides in this manner may be key to actually getting a better response and keeping my students more engaged.

Linda Quandt

Leasrning by Teaching

I have taught F2F and online, so I know the areas and topics that sudents have diffiuculty learning in when teaching medical coding. I try to get students into my weekly live labs so we can work on the mechanics on how to use the multiple coding books they must master.

Christopher Watson

Time Mgmt in Online Learning

I've found that when I try to impart the importance of time management, I let them know that they need to schedule time for their online class as an appointment with themselves. They have to view that commitment the same way they view a f2f class or any another type of appointment they may schedule.

Carolina Bodner

Adding social media to an existing online environment

While I am an avid social media user and clearly understand the benefits of adding it to the curriculum as a tool for engagement and the development of certain skills, it is important to remember that in a world filled with usernames and passwords, online platforms, ebooks,online labs and classrooms, the addition of social media or one more platform for students to navigate through can become somewhat of a burden. Particularly if you consider the gap in the level of "technology comfort" between generations. Adding social media as a tool may be useful in the classroom, but it is important to consider the general audience of the classroom before deciding whether adding a social media component to the course is a productive tool or a source of stress for non-traditional students.

Randolph Fein

Disadvantages of Rubrics in General

Rubrics can also restrict the students mind power in that they will feel that they need to complete the assignment strictly to the rubric instead of taking the initiative to explore their learning. If the criteria that is in the rubric is too complex, students may feel overwhelmed with the assignment, and little success may be imminent. For the teacher creating the rubric, they may find the task of developing, testing, evaluating, and updating time consuming.

Kathleen Meskunas CHEP

learning techniquets

For many of my students, they feel that on-line learning is a free pass to to school when they want to, not when they have to. I find that they procrastinate on their discussions and assignments for the class because they dont have a physical instructor in front of them. If they dont log on to the class then they dont have to see the posts that their instructor says to them about their assignments. "Out of sight out of mind" or " I will get to it later" is what I hear. Sometimes I think that they feel that that they are on-line learners and they are not. Some people need to be in the classroom and dont really get much out of on-line learning because they are more visual and auditory learners. I think we need to keep that in mind that online learning is not a "one size fits all".

Kathleen Meskunas CHEP

not up to date

How do we get our non-traditional students, who have no technology skills, up to date? Well lets start with intorducing them to the computer. If they dont have children or never used a computer at their previous job, they are affraid of it. I know this because I was one of THEM. I was affraid to even touch a computer because I thought that if I hit a wrong button that I would erase everything. I had a fellow teacher that sat me down and explained everything that I needed to know. It changed my life as I know it. Now I use an I-pad in the classroom just about everyday. Love technology, but lets get them intorduced to the computer first.

Kathleen Meskunas CHEP

skills

Alot of my students are non-traditional and many have no computer skills at all. Some were factory workers that lost their job to over seas, some were warehouse workers or even stay at home parents. Getting them comfortable with the new technology takes time with these students. Giving them an Intro to computers class is the first step.

Kathleen Meskunas CHEP

over confident

Some of my students are not prepared for the on-line learning experience. Some think since they can "do it on their own time", it means whenever they feel like it. First time users really get an eye-opener when they can get through their first lesson. I believe that they need a better understanding of this class on a computer, is like a traditional classroom in which they have to "talk" to their classmates.

BRIGITTE POWELL

Essentials: LMS, Documents, Assessment

Hello Renee To reach all learners, I keep my fonts clear and consistent. I integrate a number of different learning methods to reach various learners. By reaching multiple learners - no learner will lack proper help and resources and delivery of content is for all students in the course. Brigitte Powell

BRIGITTE POWELL

Speech Recognition Software

Hello Renee The one speech recognition feature which I personally use and is used by thousands of people is Dragon Speech. Personally, I use this feature to slim down the time it takes to type up my doctoral papers. I think this is a great and inexpensive way for students who are challenged to type school work. With pros there are cons, such as typos due to the fact that the software does not always recognize words or confuse words such as face with phases. Brigitte Powell

BRIGITTE POWELL

Section 508

Hello Renee At my university, we work closely with both student advising and the disability office to ensure that students with disabilities are accommodated in the proper manner with proper documentation, student outreach, allow additional time for students on assignments, and extra help via phone, tutoring, or email. Brigitte Powell

BRIGITTE POWELL

Visually Impaired Students

Hello Renee I have facilitated courses with all walks of life and students who are visually impaired. I would like to note that this can prove to be a challenge as assignments evolved around analyzing primary source documents. I mentioned this to my dean and was able to integrate audio describing the documents and assign students, visually impaired, to content tutors who continue to work with students until success is reached. Brigitte Powell

Aaron Page