Maintaining a good record keeping system to manage the flow of information is important. All online instructors should have a file folder on rsponses to quizzes and exams, discussion and chat transcripts, emails, and assignment answer keys. When professors impletent a record keeping system they reduce their stress and can focus more on teaching.
Ensuring students do not feel alienated during the entire course--not just the beginning of a course--is the instructor's role, which can be addressed with regular interim progress reports and surveys. I will start chunking course workloads to help students from becoming overwhelmed by the amount of work required to complete an online course.
Module four of the Online Teaching Techniques has reminded me of the importance of keeping records of communication with students. Also, I appreciated the information on undesirable behavior of online students.
Just a couple of comments today. This module reemphasized the importance of communication and organized record keeping. When dealing with students behaviors and conflicts--document, document, document. From day one, we should be on the top of our game, willing to look at our own issues before we deal with students. For me, that issue is procrastination. If I expect certain behaviors from them, I need to model good characteristics myself. Now technology--a computer instructor told me that young people who have grown up using computers may be great "gamers", but never assume they will be computer whizzes in the classroom setting. Good IT is a great support asset.
This section gave valuable information on effectively resolving potential causes of conflict. I was really impressed, it gave some great insight on handling such matters, above and beyond the enforcement of the code of conduct.
Student attrition was not part of my thinking process until I listen to this program. It is helpful to know that students will withdraw from the program for reasons other than just the teacher or the materials.Keeping track of whether or not students keep up is important.
It's important to keep communicating records, like emails with students. Being able to understand students behavior and being able to counsel through email and helping students to stay focused and interested. Be ready to solve conflicts with students
I learned ways to deal with disruptive students in an e-learning environment
I learned that keeping accurate records it's very important. Being able to spot students that may be at the point of withdrawing due to alianation, and other issues early on is imperative to students and progra success.
I liked learning about the instructor's role in attrition managment - it's nice to know on one hand that we can have an affect and also a little scary at times. We always need to be vigilant!
Toni
Students that are not engaged in an online course need to be addressed. Particularly their reasons why.
This Module certainly gave mmany "house keeping" tips. With on-ground teaching, you have file cabinets to keep your work as well as the students work that will evenually make it to their permanent file. e-learning records should be easily accessible too. Managing students behavior online and reducing the possibility of attrition can be managed by being aware of the overwhelmed student's needs and helping the mis-behaving student to see how they can contribute in another positive way.
I learned issues and concerns that may arise in the elearning environment and how to prepare for them.
I learned why students may chooose to exit e-leaning. How to handle noisy learners and the problems they may introduce, and the do and don't of counseling by chat. I learned a lot of new things about how to handle the situations that will come up with e-learning that I hadn't even thought of.
I learned that it is important to create a system to keep student communications organized and accessible. One should create file for all the different types of communication you might have with students.
Interesting as to managing disruptive behavior. I'm not sure if it works but anxious to try it.
After reviewing this module I have taken away from it the importance of staying organized and communicating effectively online with students. Some of the best ways to communicate with online learning would be through email or live chats.
Not all conflict can be avoided, therefore handle it privately and not in group discussion. Encourage students to as question and if technical issues arise re assure the. And help get them technical support.
Reply to Tracie Buffaloe's post: I like that idea. I typically provide a code of conduct that I expect people to follow verbally during first discussion and remind them frequently. Having it written down is an excellent way to provide quick reference back and to make sure it is spelled out clearly for everyone with no room for misinterpretation.
The part of this module that I found interesting was the characterization of different types of students. I was able to picture, in my mind, these different personalities matching up with different students from my various classes. Even as some personality types can be problematic, I found the simple guidelines that were laid out to be helpful in an almost “common sense” kind of way. Sometimes it is good to have things laid out in plain English to reinforce what you may already know but didn’t think of originally as being so simple and direct. Dealing with a “problem child” in class can be difficult and we could have more than one type of these problematic personalities in a single class setting. You can’t necessarily deal with each one in the same way, but we can still follow the same general guidelines to get positive results.
