Online instructors have to be on top of the material (both content and process) and ahead of their students (prepared for classes.) Courses must be structured in an intuitive way and the structure has to be clearly demonstrated to students. There will always be problems though and instructors should be clear on how to engage IT.
I have learned that even though we have a common goal, not every online instructor will reach that in the same manner. Having a full understanding of the course structure and knowing the students per section will guide instruction to reach the ultimate goal.
Clarity and good communication are critical to enabling students succeed in the class. The structure, platform and infrastructure can play a very important role in enabling this success. It is also important to help students participate and engage in the virtual classroom.
I learned that I need to become more familiar with our canvas program.
Set expectations. Support is crucial for their success which should include both learning support & technical support.
The instructor must know how to resolve basic technical difficulties such as viewing the profile and viewing grades. Online learning also allows for multiple means of communication.
I appreciated the emphasis on the importance of instructor as a support system for the student, even in an online environment. It's important that students feel confident that their instructor is REAL, and responsive to them as individuals.
I will make a concerted effort to touch base with each one of my students individually at least once over the course of the class.
In addition to the dozens of training courses I am currently working through, I also need to spend time better familiarizing myself with my institution's CMS.
Delivery of content and delivery of strategies is important. I also need to understand the online platform so that my students can understand it and understand my material
I appreciate the motivation from this course.
From this module I learned the importance of having a set course structure. This allows students to get comfortable with the expectations and cadence of assignments. Also the importance of making the course interactive to raise engagement.
Each instructor will vary in delivery methods. The important aspect is altering methods to reach diverse students needs.
I have been on Hybrid status for years teaching synchronous online zoom meet and hands on Labs, I feel this is best to have same Instructor for all as to keep everyone on the same page and students engaged and motivated to what is coming up next.
I should be familiar with the course delivery methods because there are many things the instructor must know how to do and several questions that I must know how to answer such as: How to access attendance roster online, how to navigate the tabs in Canvas, how to find the gradebook.
I've learned thus far to familiarize myself with delivery techniques by asking myself questions:
How will I deliver the the content: pass arounds, videos, short lectures, case studies
Do students have everything they need to gain access on day one! Passwords, links, web address, etc
I learned that you should view all of your course materials before the start of class. Keep the class engaged and communicate effectively within the class.
There are many useful components to the CMS. So, in order to familiarize ourselves, just click the different links to see what's inside them.
In order to be an effective online instructor, the instructor should be familiar with the delivery system and be prepared to answer student questions. To reach this goal, I go through all labs prior to assigning them to students.
Ensure you have familiarized yourself with the course by assessing it in student mode to ensure it works for the student.
