Glen Beesley

Online learning is not the same as face to face.   Organization of content, student engagement and assessment strategies are not the same.    The instructor needs to make sure all these are clear and provide a good framework for a successful outcome for the student

An engaged and attentive instructor is very important.   Listening to and responding to students, being pro-active in communications, being organized and being a leader providing direction and feedback are very important.

While both have a place in the online world, asynchronous learning is likely the more appropriate way to operate.   The main requirements of this system are organization, access to content and posting work, and most importantly an engaged, communicative instructor.   

Technology tools can be a help or  hindrance to leaning.   Also, in order to be most effective, I need to figure out my "teaching style" and then find the tools that best support that style.   I also need to understand I may need to modify either the tools used or my style according to feedback from students.

A good instructor needs to be able to keep good records of student activity including assignments and chats.   There is also a need to be able to identify different types of learners and how to help them  be successful in the class. 

This was an interesting section.   Prior to this study, I would have thought that synchronous meetings were better.  I was glad to learn about asynchronous forums and their use.

As with all learning, a personal approach is best.  Providing a bio to the students and also looking for one from the student allows there to be an connection between the two.   A bio also gives the student some sense of the instructor's depth of knowledge on teh subject matter.

A take away for me is to take the time to work the course from the student point of view.   This should help identify areas of concern as far as navigation and instruction material  which can then be clarified or modif8ed as needed to avoid a bad experience.

I see two main points for the instructor.   Clarity of expectation and material and communication.   Having clear expectations with specific information and clear time frames is very important to good outcomes.   Also, being responsive to questions and issues  in a timely manner will help students avoid frustration which leads to a poor experience.