In this module I have created a checklist of sorts for myself of how I plan to start my next school year in a fully digital platform (if it comes to that). I have learned that it is important to frontload students with all of your classroom procedures and policies; make sure they know exactly what is expected of them and where content is located. Finally, I have learned that there is no "cookie cutter" approach to online teaching, each teacher can take different approaches to teaching standards.
Reply to Rochelle Jerred's post: Excellent points Rochelle. How do we create a sense of security and comfort in a virtual world for our students, just as we have worked so hard to create in person?
I've learned the importance of keeping students engaged, by developing and utilizing quality courses, as well as assessing the outcomes.
I plan on becoming more familiar with applicable online tools and resources to prepare me to deliver effective instructional content with varying student learning styles in mind.
It is crucial for the instructor to learn the CMS, have a full understanding of how post questions, discussions, assessments, etc. As an FCS teacher, it is key for me to use various ways to deliver different "hands-on" topics to my students. I must learn everything about the CMS, so my students have a high sense of comfort and security so they are convinced that someone will be there to support them and make their learning experience a successful one.
With new approaches to deliver course content, I wholly believe that understanding the CMS thoroughly can make instructional delivery effective and easier to meet learning objectives.
We are going to be a one to one school in the fall , so I believe our classes are basicly going to be online anyway. So hopefully this will get us started in the rihgt direction .
I learned the importance of being familair with all of he protocols that go into being an on line instructor. The importance of making sure the students can clearly receive and return assignments, projects, and quizzes as well as particiapte in discussion forums to stay connected to each other and the teacher is a very important aspect of on line instruction.
Organization and knowledge of program navigation are key component of online learning.
I have learned in this module that it is important that the teacher knows the material, both the learning topic and technological approaches from the education learning platform. Communication and responding to learners is also very important when it comes to teaching virtually.
It essential to provide needed technical support to students in timely manner. I learned about the component that define the course framework including course learning objectives, assignment and due dates, instructional strategies and grade.
I found it helpful to be reminded of all the organizational tasks that need to be attended to before class starts. There are always a lot of them.
The bacis thing I learned is that all instructors teach differently.
The structural integrity of the online course is what struck me the most. I teach in a young CTE program, only in its third year, and I am the second teacher this program has had. One of my major issues has been establilshing clear structural integrity in the program since that was not established before I took over teaching. As we are in the online learning, i have found this to be even more difficult. As I look to how we will approach next year's classes, I will keep this in mind. I want my lessons to have the same structure both online and offline.
This was an introduction to the CMS to be used. A course must be simple to navigate, be interactive, and learner-centered. I have learned that in order to help students there has to be access to content and technical support.
As a new online instructor, it is important for the instructor to completly understand the system that the course will be delivered. Students will be easily frustrated and if the instructor can't "fix" the issue, the student will be lost.
In summary, I've learned various things:
Different teachers will reach course objectives in different ways.
Students and teachers both should be comfortable and knowledgable about the layout and course structure, including where to find everything, and how students will be assessed.
Technology support is very important to students being comfortable and not getting frustrated.
The instructor of an E-Learning course must be very organized and proficient in his subject matter. The relay of this information to an online student is critical to the student becoming proficient in the material. Instructions must be specific and easily understood by the student reading the directions and then carrying out the projects, readings, quizzes, etc.
You have to know how the course is set up. This will allow you to know what to expect from the students.
I will need to familiarize myself to this system. And, I didn't know that you may need to drop particular participants from the chat sessions when they ignore warnings and consistently deviate from the topic.
