It is important for the instructor to provide both learning and technical support.
One important note that I made was to have the tech support contact info. on hand. I realized that my tech support probably isn't the same as theirs, and theirs is likely a ticket submission process. Also, there may be different tech numbers for the school and the CMS. It's important for them to know whether they're reaching out to someone at their institution or not and how soon to expect an answer.
It is critical to meet students where they are with online classes in the technological space. Many students are new to online classes and have great anxiety in navigating the online environment.
Uniformity in the design of a classroom is critical in helping students navigate each course. That predicitability helps them to know where courseware is located, and makes it easier for them to find what they need in any course they take. When each instructor designs a course differently from others, students have to spend learning time relearning the design of the classroom.
Before teaching an online course with active students, it's important to review all course materials, assessments, and the overall layout of the course. The instructor is the expert not only with course content but also with any learning tools, layout, and resources. It's important for the instructor to be the first line of support for any tech issues or course content questions.
The importance of course structure and navigation!!
Course delivery is about more than knowing your content. Yes, this is important but there is more at play than what you are teaching. A nice aspect of Canvas is that I can view my course as a student. Looking over my course from student view will help me guide my students in using the different pages and resources available. I also need to have a good understanding of the assignments my students will be doing. This way I can anticipate questions and go over any assignments where I think my students may find the wording or the questions difficult.
I learned how to best set up an online course.
Online teaching requires strategic methods so students can truly grasp the material.
I learned how important it is to know the CMS entirely.
I have learned that instructors also need to have enough training time to be able to deliver effective online teaching techniques to further help students with what they need.
I learned that professionals in admissions are most skilled and least prepared at in-person meetings with prospective students.
The support infrastructure consists of learning support and technical support.
Synchronous discussions vs. Asynchronous discussions.
Synchronous discussions:
Timing: Requires all students to be present at the same time.
Interaction: Provides live interaction and immediate feedback.
Examples include real-time question-and-answer sessions, live video conferences, and chat sessions.
Best for: This is ideal for time-sensitive projects, quick problem-solving, and building team rapport.
Pros: Foster strong connections, provide immediate clarity, and have a more natural feel, similar to any everyday conversation.
Asynchronous discussions:
Timing: Students participate at different times without the need to be online at the same time.
Interaction: Interactions would involve more delayed responses, which have been brainstormed, providing more detailed replies.
Examples: Email exchanges, pre-recorded video messages, and online discussion boards.
Best for: Asynchronous discussions are a plus for complex subjects requiring more of a thought process, collaboration, and are useful across different time zones.
Pros: Asynchronous offers flexibility, supports self-paced learning, and allows for focused responses.
You must familiarize yourself with the specific details about the course content from both the instructor's and the students' perspectives.
The structure and requirements to conduct an online class, and how toi assist students.
From this content, I learned the importance of understanding the structure and delivery of a course before teaching it. Knowing how content is presented, when students can access materials, and whether learning is linear or flexible helps ensure that instruction is clear and consistent. It also highlights the need to plan feedback and assessments according to the course design—especially if quizzes or modules are released at specific times. By familiarizing myself with these details, I can better support students’ learning, anticipate their needs, and maintain a smooth, organized flow throughout the course.
As an instructor it's important to become familiar with how student's will be viewing the content and it's important to know how to navigate to it just incase they have questions. Technology is a major part of life now especially with being in school or college.
Being familiar with the course content, the CMS and being mindful of each student and the different learning styles.
One takeaway for me is that it is important as the instructor to understand how the school's learning management system works and how to manage that system so that course material is available to students in a timely manner. Having a list of important dates or times when modules need to be unlocked for students can help.
