As instructors, we must ensure that students have access to technology and feel confident using it. When students lack sufficient knowledge or access to technology, they often face significant challenges.
It is important to be compassionate and understanding that technology can sometimes be a problem, which could lead to frustration and the student being upset.
One key takeaway is the misconception that online learning lacks engagement or effective student-teacher interaction. In reality, with the right tools and strategies, online platforms can facilitate meaningful connections and foster an engaging environment. If these connections occur through social media, such as Facebook or Instagram, they can also happen in the online learning space. However, time management and self-discipline can be significant hurdles for students. To address this, I plan to incorporate more interactive elements, like discussion boards and live sessions, and provide guidance on time management to help students stay on track and remain engaged.
Enlist in feedback and be open to ideas and criticism from colleagues. Clear boundaries and expectations should be established up front to ensure everyone is actively participating in the learning process.
Presenting the active strategies to be used throughout the course, intensity of the workload, and learner expectations from the beginning in a short video course introduction will reduce some negativity from students during the course.
I think even with it being a wonderful opportunity to teach online we need to realize there is a chance of technology not working and we should have a backup plan in that circumstance.
I've learned that I have to view myself less as "the expert" in the classroom and more as the guide.
My takeaway from this module is that there is a lot of limitations to active learning, so it is important to use the technology that works best for your type of students and curriculum.
Attitudes can affect the implementation of active learning activities in online learning, so it is important to explain the reasoning to the students and administration, if necessary, to allow more time to purposefully plan the learning activities.
It was helpful to learn that students may consider active learning to not be learning and not a good use of their time. It is important for the instructor to make sure they understand the importance of active learning.
From this module, I have developed a greater appreciation for active learning techniques. Active learning demands more planning and effort on both the students' and instructors' parts. I intend to plan carefully and balance power in the classroom to optimize student learning outcomes.
Online instructors do not have an "easier" job, in fact it can be more challenging to engage students without face to face interactions
Comment on Alisa Summers's post: Yes, Ms. Alisa. I taught online yesterday. My battery was at 85% on my laptop. All of a sudden, it shut down, and I had to scramble to complete the lecture. I learned to ALWAYS have a back up plan, OR simply always have a charger.
I understand that I need to have a plan B in case technology fails
I've learned that there are multiple ways to teach students and keep them engaged. Not everyone learns at the same place nor do they retain the information within the lecture the same. Most students are visual and/or hands on learners. I'm thankful to know how to pursue certain assignments while keeping this in mind.
I have learned that giving more time and thought to online learning activities are beneficial to the student success outcomes!
Being that I am a 100% remote teacher, it was most helpful for me to learn and understand that creating remote-based lesson plans tends to take more time than in-person lessons.
Technology is a factor in online learning. When a program fails, it is essential to have a back up plan in place just in case. Some may not realize that online learning can also be engaging.
Some of the key takeaways were:
- An instructors attitude can be their biggest barrier when it comes to change.
2. Active learning requires more effort on the student and is certainly not made for individuals wanting passive learning.
3. The instructor or facilitator, should recognize they are a guide in the student's self-directed learning process.
Assessing one's attitude towards incorporating new learning methods and teachings are important because as instructors/facilitators we are here to guide the students and we need to understand that everyone does not learn the same. SO stepping outside of your comfort zone by incorporating active learning and can help student understand the concepts and content better.
