Beth Konikoff

Discussion Comment

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

Everyone offered great insights and observations! I have also been teaching online for over 10 years and have had generally poor chat attendance. As a collegaue above mentioned, those that do attend benefit and enjoy the time they choose to invest in the chat. However, the first issue, is getting them to attend - ONCE! Here is my thinking on the poor attendance:

1) Students feel as though they are in an online class, so they are not aware or familiar with a synchronous opportunity.

2) They may feel emabrrassed or afraid to participate (via voice or text) because of… >>>

Beth Konikoff

Blog Comment

Live Office Hours

In my 11+ years of online teaching, I have had 1 student attend my Office Hours (also a 2 hours per week requirement). Students will find me online and send an IM, but the Office Hours are quite ineffective. I understand that ensuring a specific time to be available to engage with students is vauable. However, if the student were to contact me and set a specific time/date that worked for them, you achieve the same goal without wasting the instructors time.

Beth Konikoff

Discussion Comment

Engaging Online Learners

The ever-expanding virtual world is itself becoming a campus where instructors and students can connect at multiple points. Finding the most engaging way for each student to make that connection can pose post both difficulties (many options) and ease (many options). Personally, I believe the bottom line is the engagement of the student. If they are interested, they will respond from any touch point. If they are not engaged, no matter where, what or how frequently you reach out, the efforts will fall on deaf "fingers".

Beth Konikoff

Blog Comment

When Networking ...

Sharing knowledge and experience benefits not only the student but the instructor. As the range of online students continues to broaden, the more strategies and successes can share, the more relevant and impactful the student's learning can be.

Beth Konikoff

Blog Comment

Lab Sims

I agree the simulations are hands-on. But if there is"dead weight" in the group, this can create a problem. Students who contribute to the labs in a viable, dynamic way, get the most learning from it. As peer instructos and as a formal student of an instructor, this tool can offer the unique perspective of project "ownership" and competition, which is another vauable lesson.

Beth Konikoff

Blog Comment

Reflection

Performance and motivation can be influenced by ongoing assessments. For students who do well, that may be all they need. For those that don't do well, they may become discouraged. Conversely, they may want to strive for improvement in which case, the lower score is an incentive. That is the beauty of teaching - reaching out to a wide range of personalities in a way that works for them.

Beth Konikoff

Discussion Comment

Diagonistic assesments

The advantage of assessments is the ability to be flexible in the materials being covered. Whether the topics are rearranged or discussed differently, by knowing how well the concepts are being absorbed by the class and individuals, instructors can increase the actual learning and retention of the student.

Beth Konikoff

Discussion Comment

Technology Assessment Tools

Technology to assess stuent comprehension can create other issues as well. If the student experiences some technical difficulty, is not focused when taking the asessment or thinks it counts but it doesn't (or vice versa), can be problematic. Whatever the circumstances are that create an outcome that discourgaes the student (rather than encourage) can have unintended (negative) consequence when the opposite was the outcome by providing "ease of techniology".