SHARON SHATTUCK

Getting the students engaged and keeping them on track of the course outline is important. Letting them know what assignments are due and keeping them moving forward in thier education should not be impacted by the course being on line. 

Engaging the students in online learing is very difficult.  It is even more diffucult when you can't see the students but just delivering the lecture. Making sure the students, again, have the proper tools to engage in the classroom virtually is of great importance. 

Whether you choose to do synchronous or Asynchronous, the students need a clear plan and set of expectations to follow. I have done both and if you don't hold them to the synchronous, they will become MIA during the course.  Asynchronous is great for those students who have time management skills and who are committed to being on line to get the work done daily, but if not, they will slowly get lost in what is happening in the virtual classroom. 

Reply to meri torres's post:I agree. You have to develope a relationship with your students even outside the virtual classroom.  I have given my students my personal phone number, FaceBook friend request and also Messenger so I know them inside and outside the classroom. It helps to understand them better. 

It is important to select the proper tools to produce the kind of teaching goals you have in mind.  Most important is to set your students up for success, you must ensure they have the proper tools and equipment to make the traininig material more successful. Then upon some feedback, Stop, Go, Start what worked and what  you can improve upon. Feedback from the students anomously is very important.