The Art of Online Teaching

Students retention online depends on 3 factors: Selecting the right students for the right program, using a highly learner focused delivery model, and __________.

(page 23)

• making sure they have snacks while they work.

• providing dance breaks

• engaging learners at a personal level

• holding their hand every step of the way

What does the "C" stand for in the VOCAL acronym to describe an effective online instructor? (page23)

"The attention to community is not just fluff, or something extra that already overburdened instructors need to pay attention to. It is a means by which students become empowered as learners, thereby taking charge of their learning"- ultimately because they feel like they are a part of that community, and feel a responsibility to that community.

Type up a couple sentences of what your students can expect from you as an online facilitator. What is something you can do (or already do) for your learners, that works towards building an online community?

Figure 2.1 on page 29 illustrates the elements that are brought together in an online course that result in the development of a learning community. Community is in the center of the triple Venn diagram, what do the surrounding three P's stand for?

• People, Pretzels, Process

• Purpose, People,

  Pedagogy

• Process, People,

  Participation

• People, Purpose,

  Process

According to the authors Palloff and Pratt, the CMS (Course Management System) used for course delivery should have these characteristics: Functional, offering the functions necessary to design and deliver the course, simple to operate, and user-friendly, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

This is a poll question and I would like to know in your opinion what the fourth characteristic should be. (Ideally all should be kept in mind, however what is the one characteristic that you feel should make the list?)

• They Accommodate for a range of learning styles.

• They offer flexible delivery

• They are interactive (student to student, student to teacher etc)

• Provide constant helpful and meaningful feedback to students

Brain Break intermission! Please draw either one thing that is always in your fridge, or one thing that you wish was in your fridge, or both!

"In order to make the best use of synchronous discussions, groups should be kept small....it creates an environment in which__ _____________. (page 33)

• all voices are likely to be heard.

• participants are likely to show up.

• participants feel pressure to keep their cameras on.

• there is less opportunity for discussion.

The instructors need to be familiar enough with the technology to work around any difficult issues it might present. The technology then, should serve only as a __________ for delivering the course, allowing both instructor and students to pay attention to more important matters. (page 34)

"We cannot stress enough that an important beginning to an online course is to present_______________." (page 34)

• a mini biography of who you (the instructor) are to your students so they have a better understanding of who you are.

• students with a 'cheat sheet' for the course so that students may take shortcuts if they require them.

• clear guidelines for participation, as well as information about course expectations and procedures.

• students with your phone number so that they know you are available to them at any time.

"Collaborative learning processes help students achieve deeper levels of knowledge generation through the creation of shared goals, shared exploration, and a shared process of meaning making. In addition, collaborative activity can help to reduce the feelings of ___________ that can occur when students are working at a distance." (page39)

• loneliness

• isolation

• sadness

• frustration