The more detailed we can be in our expectations of the students, the better it will be for them. As the course mentions, if we require discussion participation, outline what is expected for the main post and the student responses, and provide an example if possible. If we expect students to support their ideas, we need to make that a clear expectation.
I think there was a good point at the end that not all students have the same background, and not all students will build knowledge in the same way. The course should help them build scaffolding, but there needs to be enough flexibility for different learners to benefit.
This really makes sense and is so important .Utilizing all learning elements in the online course is vital to developing students' learning scaffolds. All content including learning objects and communication should introduce, enhance, and/or reinforce the learning objectives.
I learned that scaffolding has eight important steps we need to follow and that organization is very important as well.
When you focus on students' learning in the online environment, you need to utilize the eight tasks of scaffolding.
I learned about the difference between the necessary compononents of a syllabus in an online course versus a syllabus in a face to face course. An online course needs a dynamic syllabus that is modified as students provide feedback about the course. It is important not to have a flat syllabus when teaching an online course so that students can interact with the syllabus and visit it often for information.
I learned that scaffolding provides structure for student learning and focus for student activities.
Effective communication becomes even more important in online education to ensure students stay on track. Things like a dynamic syllabus can help students stay on top of the lesson.
I learned the syllabus should be dynamic and to encourage communication.
Good over view of how to reinforce a course framework and learning opportunities.
Scaffolding aloows the student to build new knowledge adding to what they already know. This encourages a positive approach to learning as the student will continue to learn and have the syllabus to guide them in the direction that reaches the intended goal for the course.
A point made in this lesson that really resonated with me is that students need to learn with technology rather than from it. I think many instructors view new technologies or simulations as teaching tools. While they can be teaching tools, the technology should help guide the student towards learning particular skills. This will help with scaffolding the student's learning.
The Eight tasks of scaffolding are important to help facilitate student learning and will present sucessful if good communication is a core element withing the learning community.
Good communication, clear direction, and scaffolding are imporant keys to use in the teaching process. Thus the learner can be engaged and gradually learn the material.
I have learned that a specific and organized syllabus assists the student in building their individual scaffolding for effective learning. As in all instances, good communication helps the indiviual student, any groups, and the instructor to meet and achieve all the courses learning objectives.
If scaffolding is done correctly then a strong foundation is built and the students will learn. However, if the scaffolding starts out weak or is being built in the wrong direction it will fail to hold and students will not learn and lose interest.
After completing this module, I have realized that I am going to have to rethink how I do my syllabi when I am creating an online course. I feel that it needs to be a lot more detailed than one for a synchronous class.
I have learned the importance of developing a syllabus. The syllabus lays out your expectations for the quality of work you expect from your students and shows students how they should prepare for class
Scaffolding is a great way to perceive students building on previous knowledge.
The first consideration is a dynamic syllabus, meaning not only that it is updated and improved over time, but also that it allows access to relevant supporting resources. Learning communities are very important to provide instructor-to-student, student-to-student, student-to-group, instructor-to-group, and group-to-group communication. This allows students to build on their own knowledge base, to offer outside resources, and to clarify what they may misunderstand. Scaffolding is also very important to give students a way to organize, and therefore use and retain information. While this course recommends using an uncited 8 steps of scaffolding, I will continue to rely on Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction, to which these are similar, and from which they seem to be derived.
