Having a dynamic syllabus is the basis for any successful class as an instructor. From there establishing the right environment to allow the students to scaffold properly also provides success for the student and instructor.
Building an online community for your course is important to student learning. Students shouldn't be left to feel that they are alone online doing the course. The student has to be aware that engaging in the community is important to their learning in the course. Web based tools are helpful in the development of a community sense that the students will want to engage in.
Developing a dynamic syllabus is important. This online syllabus is very different from our traditional ones.
My take away from this session is the building of a dynamic syllabus. My goal is to revise the syllabus so my students may access and see each component versus a flat line.
The amount of involvement from the instructor in the online discusssions needs to be asssessed from one group to another.
Define clearly in the syllabus the rules for participation.
The tracking an instructor has to do monitoring scaffolding for students
Students need to focus on learning with technology and not from technology.
Scaffolding is very important in helping students begin to build on different topics, while learning and processing communication.
Asking 3 questions to students:
1. What should we stop doing
2. What should we start doing
3. What should we continue doing
Reply to Nicole Golden's post: I agree with you Nicole, students that create a better learning scaffolding based on their previous learning and experiences always help them to focus in their learning strategies.
By creating a great learning scaffolding by remodeling and rebuilding on previous knowledge and previous experience and where to focus positive energy it help the students understanding their course framework to implemented through their courses.
That learning should be centered on the students and that there are a number of ways to do this.
Scaffolding is important piece to delivery of instruction using students prior knowledge.
I have learned about using different communication tools and electronic tools in order to communicate effectively with students. The instructor will be the one leading the communication and must be clear on instructions. These instructions should be included in the course syllabus.
The importance of scaffolding to help students learn new concepts and assimilate the course learning objectives.
I learned the importance of utilizing all learning elements in the online course in order to develop students' learning scaffolds.
I have always felt that scaffolding is important in any learning environment. I have always had good communication with the majority of my classes, however there are always some who do not want to talk or participate. I have to find ways to encourage and bring those students into the discussions.
The concept of scaffolding rang true with me. We always think about what they have learned prior but what a way to describe it to the students and remind them that they have built the foundation and continue to build and grow on what they have learned.
I believe providing clear instructions in the syllabus and designing both synchronous and asynchronus learning activities to promote scaffolding are the biggest takeways for me!
