Non-Technical Skills ('NTS') are interpersonal skills which include: communication skills; leadership skills; team-work skills; decision-making skills; and situation-awareness skills.
Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed. These include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software. Most online schools have new student orientation programs.
Participating in an online class and engaging in the learning process is essential but can evolve into more of a Community of Practice (CoP). Helping students be involved in a Community of Practice enhances their learning experience and helps them begin to construct their own learning. Hence, a CoP is based on the theory of constructivism.
Good reading and writing are skills that are essential when taking on line courses. Good communication skills are necessary for sucess.
I find that some students actually thrive during online discussions. I've had some students both exclusively F2F or only online. A few students were very shy F2F, even though they were participating actively in online discussions. During Canvas Conferences, they felt more safe speaking out then in F2F meetings.
The importance of effective communication is even more critical in the on-line learning environment than the F2F environment. Methods to expand, improve, and refine communication between students and instructor and students and students is an important focus of attention for an on-line instructor.
Plagarism is more complicated when instructing online.
Communication is important and using your own work and not copying or rewording other people's work.
Communication and clear instructions are vital.
Communication in any form is essential for on line learning . Many student will miss the interaction of a F2F environment and through the various ways of communication you can help them develops learning skills.
listen learn, post, ask, teach, it is all the same.
When teaching students make sure your teaching material has been understood by the learners. You may ask students to regurgitate what is learned by asking them to elaborate on what they have learned.
The non-technical skills (effective communication, community of practice, reading and writing) needed to succeed in an online course are descrbied here. It is important to note that these skills are more important in an online setting than in a traditional F2F setting.
It's important we are clear professional and apprpriate with our students in our communication. We also need to convery the importance of being part a good online citizen, and how we each contribute to that.
Making sure students know about plagiarism and what is or is not plagiarism. Communication must be clear professional and appropriate.
Students need plenty of opportunitites to practice skills like reading and writing in an online envorinment.
Key concepts are ensuring that students know they can apply the information they are gaining to their own lives and know its importance, and the reason for its necessity. Engaging students more often with the content, such as using Exit Slips, discussion boards, or group projects, as well as reiterating and teaching effective and complete comunication skills are crucial.
I plan to use the following two new techniques: the FAQ Discussion Board as an ongoing tool throughout the course to address questions related to the overall course and assignments. This will not be used for content questions but rather for more system / technical / course operations questions. I also plan to utilize the Exit Slip method for synchronous classes early in the course and anytime I have students who are struggling to participate in a meaningful way.
It is important to set guidelines so students know what is expected of them. Reading and writing skills are needed within an online environment. Communication skills have to be a priority, you want to keep your students engaged.
Communication and motivation are the two main non-technical skills that should be encouraged. Communication not just with instructors but with other students and understanding that they are a part of this community. Create that sense of doing things together and it will make them more motivated to come to classes.
