Shashank Atre

STRUCTURE.....An online class needs to be very structured.  As stated in the lesson notes and from my own experience I concur that the MODULAR approach is the best way to teach an online class.  Students should be able to navigate easily to seek and get the content they are looking for.  An instructor has to make an online presence in the same manner as he/ she would do in an actual classroom.

Research shows that the concept of "Sage on the stage" is no longer viable.  A professor standing behind a podium and giving a 2-hour lecture is not at all effective in student engagement and student learning.  This module has a very good summary of all the various learning styles of students so a good instructor should deliver the content in a multitude of ways.

The first day of the class is to make students feel comfortable, welcome, and excited about the course.  It is important for them to know a few things about you, something their classmates, and they are able to share a few things about themselves.  It is very important to have an Ice Breaker activity that allows students to network in an informal way.  As the students leave the first class of the course they leave with a feeling of excitement and a sense of comfort and security.

Planning and preparation are key components to teaching, whether it is putting together a syllabus or a lesson plan for the day.  When an instructor is prepared then he/ she can focus on the students, their needs, and their learning.  A prepared instructor conveys a sense of calm and assurance for students and that makes them open to learning.  It is very important as an instructor to be very clear and precise about your expectations from the students.

This module sums up well how to be a good instructor and/ or develop into one.  You need to be a Model for your students, you need to be a good Manager of how the course is delivered and you have to be a Motivator of your students.  Along with the 3 M's you need to have the 5 C's as Cecy Aguilar states.  The goal is student engagement through student-first teaching and student-centric learning where the focus is on applied learning.  To achieve all this a teacher/ instructor has to be a professional and expert in his/ her field… >>>

As they say " It takes a village" and it is true and apt when it comes to the prevention of sexual crimes on campus.  It is very clear that along with the Title IX Administrator and all the responsible employees of the institution it is imperative that everyone on the campus should not be just a "bystander" and let any sexual crimes happen and not act, but help the victim and the administrators.  It is also very important to understand the psychological state of mind of a victim.

All and any incidences of on-campus and off-campus incidences that involve sexual harassment, sexual violence, physical or cyber-stalking, and the case of a hostile work-place environment should be monitored by the Office of Title IX and should be investigated.

I agree that the role of Title IX Director on campus is necessary and crucial.  The Me Too movement has revealed to us that sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, and unsafe workspace has been around and has been widespread.  Especially women and members of LGBTQ have been suffering in silence for a long time.  Thus, every university and/ or any educational institution must have extensive resources allocated to the office of Student Affairs and the office of Title IX coordinator.

Would you define "innocuous?"