Tena Crews

Billie & Toni, Course objectives/outcomes and connecting them to the content and ensuring that students understand what is expected is essential. To address students learning styles, make sure the content is provided in a variety of ways. You can use short video clips, text, discussion board, etc. The content can also be emphasized through the assessment process. Thanks for adding to the conversation.

Betty & Toni, Yes, you bring up great points. The coruse presentation, delivery of content, is extremely important. If you have to design your own content one day, this is an essential component. There are many aspect in developing your own course and they must match your teaching style along with the course content objectives. Thanks to both of you for your input.

Rebecca, Thank you for your input. You continue to highlight the importance of all types of evalutions, but indicate your utmost preference.

Rebecca, Yes, feedback should be positive. When you begin with something the students have done correctly, it begins the process in a positive way. But, in addition, as you noted, the feedback must be meaningful. When an instructor simply says "Good job!" or "Way to go." this provides nothing to help the student continue to learn. Thanks for your input.

Sarah, You bring up the feedback aspect and it is so very important. Feedback can be formative or summative in nature and both should benefit the students. Assessment is something that should be done for and with students not "to" students. Good info. I am glad you emphasized a common thread in this discussion board of communication and learning objectives tied to course content. Excellent.

Betty, You are on target in your response. Thank you for adding to this discussion board. The syllabus is the initial step in the communication process and the learning objectives must be presented as you noted. The better the students understand what is expected of them and how they will be assessed, the better. When you tie that into the course being relevant to their work environment or their lives in general, that's an additional plus. Thank you.

Rebecca, I am glad to see that you are teaching online and have a grasp of important factors in the process. The syllabus is a part of the communication process - typically the first bit of communication. Always connecting the learning objectives to the assessment is essential. Thank you.

Excellent. Thank you for your ellaboration.

Elizabeth, I agree that varied types of feedback are important and obtaining specific feedback from students is especially helpful. Peer feedback is a way to engage the learners and allow students to learn from each other. Developing the ability to self-evaluate is equally important. Thanks!

Elizabeth, Food for thought. . .as you have noted, you are developing communication through your feedback as you encourage reciprocal feedback from the students. Nice job. The connection you get, again, begins the development of a community of learners in an online environment. Great!