Email is the best mechanism to handle confidential matters.
Creating an environment conducive to personal learning is always the challenge. It seems there's much similiarity in f2f with those difficult situations as is online. Finding a place where students feel empowered and invested is the key in both settings.
There are many factors that can discourage students and make them want to drop out. Being there for them, understanding their need to succeed, managing their behavior and making sure their success is YOUR NUMBER ONE priority is essential.
There is a lot involved in attrition management!
The organizational matter of online instruction seems to be mostly determined by the course management system, discussed in module 1. The CMS and the school’s email system would mostly bring the material together in some type of database or searchable format. Knowledge of the CMS and email system would help the instructor in this case.
Often advice given to students, as in giving time management advice, makes them go on the defensive. I have done this in the past and had the student say they do not procrastinate, even though they often turned in assignments late. Then the excuse that there was just too much work while at the same time stating they had other responsibilities (work). Counseling some students though online channels is a difficult task as they prefer to create excuses instead of listen to advice. I believe the best way to avoid these types of conflict is to have expectations and consequences layout clearly at the beginning along with a FAQ page so that students are able to look to past problems and see what the outcomes were.
Keeping organized records and being involved in discussions are important in e-learning. Knowing your types of learners and how best to support them on-line is important. Discussions can bring conflict, but can be managed by the instructor and can provide a rich learning experience.
Keep an organized system either by the students name or make categories. Organize your emails to learners: Confidential, public, urgent, junk.... dont put personal email messages on a public forum.. Answer student questions in a 24 hour period. You can counsel a student through private chat sessions and automatically save in a text
The main thing I learned in this module is how to distinguish between the different types of online learners, and how to positively engage them into online discussion. This is useful in everyday online learning.
Communication by email is very important, with communication between the student and instructor, the student will feel that the instructor is working with them towards a goal. If the communication is kept open the instructor will know if the student starts to show any issues.
Just like a traditional classroom each learner is different and these differences might be evident online too.
Always keep records of behavioral issues. Set up a work email with folders that will be easily navigatable and keep diligent with file management.
The instructor needs to do all he or she can for the e-learners, to alleviate alienation, excessive workload, competition, and technical issues.
One important role of an online teacher is to help students be successful by monitoring a student's progress compared to the necessary rate of completion based on the time available for the course.
I learned about the importance of maintaining records in different ways for future reference. I also learned that the teacher has the ability to modify how a lesson is submitted when a student is experiencing difficulties.
It is definitely going to be important to know and make students aware of the district and building policy as far as computer usage, online behavior, and academic integrity. They need to be aware of these policies and reminded of them when issues arise so there is no question that they understand. It is also important to document all communication and correspondence with students in the event there is an issue that needs to go higher up.
I have learned that there are many challenges with e-learning. The facilitator must be very flexible in dealing with different personalities and abilities.
Keeping good records is very important
I learned to manage emails from students and that online courses requrie a more dedictated frame work with time scheduling
Successfully managing an online course demands good communication skill to diffuse conflict and address undesirable behaviors such as those seen in disruptive or "noisy" learners. An engaged instructor will look for the warning signs leading to attrition such as alienation, and engage students early and often through discussions and personal messages.
In this module I learned that it is extremely important to make sure students are informed that there can be an "Ask three before me" peer question format to get clarity on certain subjects or content covered. Students can have the opportunity to ask questions of their fellow peers before directing some of their inqui to myself the teacher. You can assign a "buddy or partner" to assist in smaller questions other students may have to he'll clarify any work that many be assigned.
