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.
As an online instructor I can provide my students with a sense of security by being available and responsive.
In order to keep students engaged, I must learn to use a variety of interactive methods for my instruction.
It is essential to familiarize yourself with all aspects of the online learning system.
Online courses require knowledge of the delivery method (CMS) and content.
I printed the list of course delivery techniques and strategies so I can discuss them with my PLC. There were definitely some techniques that I had not yet considered, and some that I will have to reach out to admin for guidance on (access to quizzes and assessments at any time, do students have to complete in a linear way or can they hospcotch, can they only move on if they have mastered one or can they "skip" if needed and come back to).
Really realzing that learning support must come from the online instructor, and technical support must be provided as well. Going have to be prepared to keep them learning. Having a Plan B if needed...
I want to put effort towards establishing quality courses using the 4 key points outlined. To do so though I will have to consider students' different learning styles and technology knowledge.
A quality online course should be structured with modules and lessons; be easy to navigate; create/stimulate intellectual interaction and include active learner-centered activities.
It's important to be familiar with the system and to orient myself on how the students will view the online course
In-person teaching provides opportunities to adjust on the fly, but I see that online needs an incredible amount of pre-planning and everything has to be ready from the start so its all available to students as they start the program. It goes from a day by day plan of in-person teaching to a course by course online version
The items that stood out most were student comfort and that their rate of success was higher when they felt more human connection. Keeping office hours and being available to students helps the student and the instructor by making sure that not just the academics are being taking care of but the student's emotional state and engagement are nurtured.
I recently read a article where the student said the teachers weren't there for them and they had not even had one online class meeting during this entire stay at home learn online semester. The student was upset and did not feel motivated to continue instruction. The student did not feel that they had learned as much as they would in a traditional classroom.
My own students feel frustrated and unmotivated when they encounter technology problems. Our current LMS does not allow for immediate response to the problems. This leaves a bitter taste for the learner and lowers their interest in completing the online learning.
Being as avaialbe to students as possible and giving them as much engagement as possible motivates them and encourages them to do well.
The importance of planning and preparation cannot be understated. Particularly in times like these, it can be tempting to simply jump right in and 'hit the ground running'. However, a good course begins with solid preparation.
Learned that as an Online Instructor I need to fully understand the online learning system that I will using to ensure that students can successfully use the system. It's important that I try the system myself to prevent any issues. And that I should definitely spend time on on an orientation to encourage student participation in the long run.
The online e-learning structure is a great tool if used properly. It takes students and instructors a little time to get used to this new format. I will make sure the students don't find themself frustrated and be there for them.
Understamding that stusdents may be frustrated in your class for things that are beyond your control such as familiarization with technology or the platform itself the school uses
As an online instructor, it's vital that we know what the students are being asked of and how to navigate the sytem.
