I learned that it is important to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of the class infrastructure. Knowing how everything is laid out is an important part of the class experience. I hadn't really thought about that before but now I am thinking about how each decision (like can you take a quiz again) impacts the experiences.
It is essential to have an elearning structure that is easy to follow and has clear directions. Students can encounter hardships and fustrations when the structure is not properly planned and presented. I am going to apply these new strategies by using the Module-Lesson set-up mentioned in the beginning of the course.
I plan to have folders for each week's assignments, resources, PPTs, and readings so the student can easily see one week at a time. On the outside of the folder will be basic things to do and inside the folders will be the actual resources or assignments.
I have learned that it is important to have your material sturctured into modes/lessons and consistently displayed for ease of understanding by the student. If the student struggles to access the material, then they are less apt to participate fully. The other point is to give constructive feedback in a timely manner
I was concerned with the various forms of communication the students may or maynot be able to utilize and am glad to see that the autonomy to use a variety of forms is acceptable. I learned that a structured platform, curriculam, etc. makes this a better learning experience for my students.
To make sure I can effectively use an online platform and make it simple for the students.
Discussion Board:
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
I learned that online courses are delivery via Course Management System (CMS) and that delivery system is based on structural integrity, simple navigation, active learner environment as well as intellectual interacting.
I learned that support from the instructor as well as the technical support is vital for student’s success. Both provide students with comfort and security while they are leaning in an online environment.
Another thing, I learned is it is imperative for instructors to know their subject contents and how to manage an online course. They need to know how to maneuver the CMS so they can manage their students as well as other assignments, calendar, discussion boards, and grade book.
Evonne Dantzler
To be an effective online teacher, you must first know all the course content and plan through how you will lay out the course. Online teachers will bring there own teacher experience to the CMS. Effective online teachers must be familiar with the CMS, course content, and technical aspects to be able to answer students questions and tech them effectively.
I learned the importance of fully understanding ALL the features of our CMS. In moving further into developing more online content I will now be more focused on implementing more intactivity into the content of Keynotes and quizzes for greater intellectual engagement. Also structuring the lesson with smaller modules and then activities to immediately follow.
To ensure that I have a good overview of all the course material and consider timeframes as to when assignments will be do and for how long. Need to consider all aspects as to if assignments/quizzes will be allowed to be repeated.
Student success is determined by our ability to guide and support them.
I need to find out how to drop participants from a chat or discussion if they are consistently off-topic or post inappropriate comments. I need to become more familiar with all of the features of my Learning Management System. In transitioning from a face-to-face format to an online format, it is becoming apparent that a few lessons on the Learning Management System itself would have been beneficial for some of the students now forced into this format of learning because of school shutdowns.
I found it helpful to know that students gain a better sense of learning depending on the level of engagement and the overall quality of the media presented to them. As an instructor, I try to apply learned biology topics we are covering to nursing concepts to connect the content we are covering. More specifically, I create discussion topics that are relevant to the topic we are covering by relating it to nursing.
Navigation, interaction with peers and the instructor is the most important aspects of student success. The chat feature might be used well in small groups but not for the entire class. Be quick to respond to requests or issues. Be sure that technical support is available.
So far the course has pointed out a lot of things that may seem like common sense, but are frequently taken for granted. Such as the need for there to be an organizational flow to an online class, ie modules containing smaller sub unit lessons. Also the fact that learning is accomplished more so in a setting where the learner feels supported and like there is somewhere there to answer questions for them. This means that turnaround on questions, feedback, and grades needs to be timely. It also talks about things like making sure you know and follow correct release dates for assignments so that the students are paced well.
I have learned that it is worth taking my and consider the structure of the course as well as the content. It is important to look at the delivery of the material through the eyes of the student and be able to adapt this learning to a digital state.
As I have read through the discussion thread, I agree there is a a need to strengthen the digital divide and ensure the seamless delivery of material through the CMS via technology.
I also feel the need to chunk the material more and break it down into smaller learning bites. I am concerned about overwhelming the student with too many learning parts in a Module.
Instructors must gain and maintain an understanding of the CMS and be proficient in its use. This will allow a better support structure for the learner and create the best learning environment possible.
As an Online instructor for over 7 years, the basic guidelines for reviewing course content, modules, due dates and so forth are not new to me. However, terms such as synchronous and asyncrynous were new to me so I did further reseach on them and realized that our course content is mostly asynchronous using discussion for the most part. Students can navigate pretty easily and a lot of our content is very interactive and gives immediate feedback for grading/performance. What I need to pay more attention to is the variety of way that different students learn and while I usually include videos and examples in discussions and announcements, I may need to explore better how the information is presented in those videos and make my own videos/recordings or simply be more selective based on the content and SLO's.
I am essential to student succes. I must be familiar with the CMS. I must be an effective communicator to ensure student confidence and ease of use of E Learning.
I have learned the basics of e-learning and what it takes to be successful in establishing a new course of action. With the changing times, it is very important to have alternate ways to comunicate with students and allow them to interact with me. I look forward to learning much more about e-learning and sharing it with my colleagues and students.
