The online learning process requires that the course author creates a structure and learning process that utilizes all of the elements fo ensure student success.
The administrator of the course must ensure there is an adequate timely technical and course content support system in place.
The instructor is not just familiar with his subject matter but is also fully comfortable with the CMS and in organized and stays on all of the administrative requirements of the system.
The student must participate in all activities and the system must force them to interact on a regular basis.
I learned the basics of how an online course is set up. This course also reinforced the idea that I must have a good understanding of the material in my online courses before beginning any type of instruction. Without a good handle on how the CMS works prior to starting with the students, questions that arise as we proceed will be much more difficult to answer than they would be with just a little bit of extra prep time. I feel that it’s also necessary to make sure that any technical questions that arise on my part are better answered during my preparation because tech-support is typically asynchronous communication and not really able to be answered “on the fly“. I did like the tip on knowing how the different chat functions work so that you can remove people from the chat if they continually stray off topic or become problematic in someway. This can happen at times with online learning, and can be difficult to deal with if you have a good rapport with your students already.
To ensure learners participate in distance learning I believe giving points for attendance will help encourage the students to participate. I will check into how to start the point process at the beginning of the next semester. By starting at the beginning of the semester, it will give students knowledge on how the points could help them at the end of the semester.
Reply to Gina Barton's post:I love what you said here Gina - about taking time to find out your student's needs - that is awesome!
Toni
Reply to Lisa Brown's post:Hi Lisa - I, too was thinking the same thing!
Toni
I appreciated the reminders - having been teaching online for almost 12 years - I had several "ah-ha" moments - which I love. One of the key pieces that I want to remember is that every online instructor is different as are even some of the online classrooms. It's important for us as instructors to fully understand the LMS system ourselves and that way be able to easily put our students at ease thorugh instruction and repetition.
As educators, we need to be aware and understanding of online learning barriers. Knowledge of the online platforms and course material can decrease wait time to respond to students questions. Being able to aid students with how to acces IT and commun issues effectively. I learned that if barrie to online learni can be reduced studstuden frustration would be minimal.
The importance of orientation to not overwhelm an IT Department, but also to decrease student frustration.
Course Delivery is the twin of providing great content to the students. Knowing how the course can be delivered effectively begins with knowing the platform or CMS in which you are working. Being able to confidently navigate is essential. Knowing everything about the system and what you can do will allow you to provide the students with the best online experience.
It is quite important that the students feel comfortable working within the CMS and the use of the computer. Providing support through the instructor and the online help desk is a necessity for success.
From where I sit, the characteristics of a good classroom and course management are fundamentally the same as they have been throughout history. Only the format and the mode of delivery have changed--radically. As the "old geezer" that I am, I revel in the vibrance and vitality of the face to face learning experience. Yet, the online platform has given us a positive platform from which we can more effectively manage teaching. It gives us the opportunity to be more focused, with less distraction, on the task at hand. The one fly in the ointment can be the technological side when Murphy's Law pays a visit and everything that can go wrong does. Great technology without great teachers acomplishes little and, by the same token, great teachers without dedicated IT in an online format is about the same. (Voice of experience). The teacher and IT personnel need to be walking hand in hand for this venture. Life jackets on; then jump into the water.
I've learned that it is very interesting to practice and reinforce the ESOL language to any student that wants to laearn. Personally I am a hands on teacher. I usually practice the rolemodel "I do, you do. I say, you say" to interpret the trail of responses and disscussions with my students.
I was reminded that I have many tools, media, support to help me be the best on-line instructor possible. I need to bring all these tools to the program and make sure that the students are aware of all information, guidance and accessibility of the class and myself. I'm not a computer genius, my problem is figuring out how to install all information and make sure the students can access and use the information.
I think that although instructors teach differently, it is important for us to have common goals , it is also very important to understand the CMS and to be familiar with course delivery techniques and strategies, . Students will often face different challenges with online courses ,and will certainly benefit from the instructors knowledge and support throughout the process. As well as technical support.
I hope to learn how to relay the same information that I would in a classroom using online tools.
I wouldn't say that I actually learned anything new, its all common sense. But what impressed me is the fact that others realize the importance of the material and that the problems I am having others are as well.
A point that was brought about for deleting a students comments in the classroom discussion because he or she deviates from answering correctly
I learned that technology difficulties are one of the biggest frustrations to e-learners. Most of the information in this section was very basic and would not be new to anyone who has taken or hosted any sort of on-line learning.
While going through the lesson, Course Delivery, I hadn't imagined there were so many factors involved. The phrase, “retention levels are positively correlated to the amount of mental effort” suggests that interactivity must be used to assess the student’s grasp of the lesson all throughout. Students should be using a major amount of mental effort while learning.
I now know that CMS stands for Course Management System. There are many components to a CMS that are essential for online learning. Features should be ease with which the student can navigate and find information quickly, should provide tutorials, assignments for practice, assessments to measure learning and supplementary materials such as glossaries, references and any other course materials.
On the teacher’s end, there are many questions and boundaries that should be understood such as roster manipulation, quiz and test extensions, etc. Each CMS would have its own set of structure.
Knowing the course delivery and all components that the student will use provides the teacher the ability to assist the student. The teacher must also be familiar with all of the tools provided for course instruction in this setting and be able to navigate easily through the course.
Organization and a good system make sense for success. Open communication is the key along with technology that is easy to use for teachers and students. Clear expectations, assignments, grading. etc...are all essential. No stone can be left unturned with e-learning.
