Edgar Littaua

Online courses or online education is the new platform that instructors need to engage in.  The current generation of learners are tech oriented and their use of technology is an indication of education's direction.

Communication is a key component of any teaching platform.  An instructor must strive to be an effective communicator towards the students.  This involves learning new skills, technologies and above all, understanding the student's needs, limitations and strengths.

I believe that the greatest issue for any learning environment is a student's motivation, or lack thereof.  An instructor may use as many tools as possible to teach a certain subject.  But if the learner does not have the appropriate amount of motivation then the learning process is hampered. Cultivating a student's motivation is probably the best way to enhance their educational experience.

I believe the section on Behavior Management offered the most valuable lessons in the module.  Managing learner behaviors can be challenging in online platforms whether synchronous or asynchronous.  The reaction time in a face to face environment is immediate while the online platform prevents this from occurring.  The only significant factor is the ability to record events when conducting an online class.

There are advantages and disadvantages for synchronous and asynchronous discussions.  As instructors we are obliged to search and to apply the proper discussion format that best promotes learning.  After all, the primary goal of teaching is to enable students to learn their subjects in the best manner possible.

There are similarities in projecting your presence for online instruction and the traditional face to face setting.  I think the greatest challenge for online instructors is maintaining the attention of the students. Getting to know your students is essential.  It is easier to accomplish this on a classroom setting.  Doing it on an online format will require adjustments and creativity.

Synchronous and Asynchronous methods are effective only if the instructor understands the capabilities of the students.  At all times, the instructor must be in communication with them in order to make the necessary adjustments to meet the students' needs.  In addition, the use of additional materials such as books and/or targeted materials must meet the requirements of the course.  A graduate level class needs more material than an undergrad or vocational class. Assigning entire chapters should not be surprising for higher level courses.

The online learning experience requires the creative use of available multimedia technologies to effectively relay information to the learner and to encourage interaction with the instructor and other learners.  

Instructors wear several hats in a class.  The variety of approaches discussed in the module offer options on how to effectively present the material.  Students need to have a comfortable and appealing learning experience that will enable them to fully comprehend the subject matter.  It is the instructor's responsibility to adopt a creative approach that best fits the needs of the students.

The module effectively addressed how the class environment directly affects the learning abilities of the students.  Perhaps the most important lesson in it involves putting the students at ease with the instructor and the learning goals of any given course. That is something that all instructors need to take into consideration.