Strategies for engaging student participation and designing a course unit for online instruction is similar to but more critical than F2F instruction.
Getting the students engaged and keeping them on track of the course outline is important. Letting them know what assignments are due and keeping them moving forward in thier education should not be impacted by the course being on line.
What I have learned from this is the importance of consistency when building a course and its layout. Consistency is very important when teaching an online course. It gives students a better understanding of the course and it helps the students to achieve their learning objectives.
Making sure that there is constant feedback anf analyze of the course.
Online content in someways needs to be more flexible that F2F. In my classroom I can look and see if a student is engaged or not, or if the student is struggling. Not so much online.
Being consistent is key, having the information clear helps for easy navigation and better response from the students. Being organized in this aspect will help when transitioning to online. Stay consistent and communicate all and any changes being clear with the student, letting them know exactly where and how to find the different resources is very important.
I learned that course work should be consitent and a pattern for lesson should be established.
This unit talked about the design of course units and establishing a purposeful lay out with a constant, delibrate layout for easy use. Developing modules that build upon each other will help students follow the natural progession of the content.
There are multiple techniques to use to keep students engaged in online learning. One strategy is using a welcome letter, it’s a great way to start off a course. It will make online students feel more welcome. A personalized introduction is important as well, as this helps students in getting to know you.
Much consideration needs to happen when converting from a F2F environment to an online environment.
Changing an in person class to an online learning class takes time and understanding of the content/technology. It can not just transfer over and expect the students to be successful.
An instructor must take a look at their F2F course and decide how best to meet the needs of the learners. A variety of technology tools and methods should be used, but be consistant in the delivery of the course modules, so students become familiar with the layout of the course.
There are a few specific strategies I have learned from this module that I plan to integrate into my practice. For example, I found the use of podcasts particularly appealing. Also, I plan to improve o my response time to correspondences received from students. I have learnt that even minor delays can increase unnecessary student anxiey, and this is not a desired goal in creating and maintaining a conducive learning environment.
I am thinking that front loading an online class will benefit students especially if they are trying to balance multiple classes and possibly a job or other extracurricular activities.
Content should be engaging and make sure the layout is easy for the students to follow. Make sure to use tools that are appealing to the students learning process and remember to let your teaching style/personality come through too.
One must consider what is most important from F2F course and build into the online course. Objectives should be the same but how learners reach those objectives will vary using online course method.
I like many, have had the challenge of convertng a face-to-face course to online quickly due to Covid-19. I can see the many elements I incorporated into class, mentioned in this course. I do see one element I considered, but did not deliver fully. This course mentions assessment both subjective and objective, is a neccesity. I only sought subjective assessment, but will now include objective somehow. Maybe include a pre and post quiz or a game with scores? I am not sure yet, but will do some research and include it.
Once you pick a layout that works for your online class, keep it. Consistency is key. You have to maintain a great level of communication and a level of trust with your students. Get to know your students!
Organization is also an important consideration in preparing content for online instruction
