» Teaching an online class, what takes up most of your time?

Online Teaching Time-SaversThat Also Keep Students Engaged

Charlotte Petty University of Missouri at St. Louis

November 14, 2014

Student Engagement

» Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as:˃ the act of being engaged

» I like to add: while learning takes place

Transferring good classroom teaching practices to online teaching

» Learner-Centered» Students actively participate in solving problems» Instructors provide a variety of instructional

methods and techniques » Instructors create an environment where learners

make learning connections and learn from each other

» Student perspective is important» Processes and practices are dynamic and

responsive to student needsTeacher-Centered vs. Learner-Centered

» Reactive» Instructor waits until problems arise before

responding» Proactive» Information is preventive in that the instructor

uses engaging instruction and promotes a positive climate to motivate students

Reactive vs. Proactive?

» When you start something new what do you want most from others?

Course Opening

» Be available:˃ Log in at specified times when the course first starts

+ Chat or video chat˃ Take questions from students to put an end to some basic questions

before the real work in the course begins

Greet Students

» Students introduce themselves in two ways:˃ Student home pages

˃ Discussion board welcome posts+ Respond to all students welcome messages just as you would in

classroom

Respond to student email in less than 24 hours

» Check email often˃ At least twice per day on average during the week

˃ Respond to student email quickly

˃ I’m surprised at how often students say thank you for responding quickly as if this is not the norm!

˃ Take the initiative to call a student in special cases and hopefully resolve the problem before there is a need for an in person visit

» How does it feel if the instructor never acknowledges your questions or comments?

Track Your Responses to Students (Posts)

» Print the course gradebook ˃ First two weeks of postings, correct students posting mistakes so all

can see + This teaches all students in the group what is required

˃ Track the number of your discussion responses to each student+ You don’t want to appear that you respond to the same students

all the time – just as you wouldn’t want to call on the same students all the time in class

» From a student perspective what might concern you about postings?

Explain Privacy Concerns

» Have students respect the privacy of others in postings and protect themselves

» Tell students:˃ Don’t share the real name of anyone in scenarios you share˃ Don’t share the real name of a company

+ But do give the correct industry or business type

» Students are more open to share experiences knowing they are being protected ˃ They are more transparent˃ Help them protect themselves:

+ They don’t know who knows whom as they post information on discussion boards

Discussions

» How do you change of out of control discussions˃ Monitor and train students early in course discussion board etiquette and rules

+ First week and second week respond to discussion postings done incorrectly for all to see what is and is not acceptable

+ Give frequent, early, positive feedback as well to help students believe they can do well and to show what is expected

+ Help students apply the material to their own life – relevance*+ Ensure the discussion atmosphere is open and positive*+ Help students feel they are valued members of discussions*

» *Source http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/affective/motivation.html Retrieved August 19, 2014 (National Association of Geoscience Teachers)

+ But also:– Note the rules of discussion in your response posting – Note the consequences of not following the rules

» What formats of information do we believe current students read and stay involved with most?

Encourage Creative Postings

» Graphics and illustrative photos˃ Encourage students to find or create things that help to illustrate the

concepts and ideas being discussed, in addition to their writing according to your posting requirements

» No the Discussion Board is not Facebook, but the added graphics helps to keep students reading and interested

Save Time Posting

» Instructor: Draft and keep basic postings˃ Reuse chapter summaries

˃ Create and reuse written descriptions of key concepts, theories and other information that are discussed each semester.

+ Reuse but alter as necessary

˃ Unique responses to individual student posts are still necessary

Announcements

» Weekly announcement – Start of each week˃ Encourage – How did they do last week?˃ Remind – Current week’s plans and assignments˃ Assignment grading – When should they expect them to be returned?˃ Future – Remind students of major upcoming concerns

» Of course a big time saver is saving those announcements from semester to semester and alter them as needed

» Added announcements as needed – be careful˃ Help students steer clear of problems˃ Reminders to students who aren’t taking part as they should

+ Via the course site to everyone+ Individual emails to offenders

Course Closing Hours

» Be available˃ Send an announcement 24 to 48 hours of the courses closing noting

+ Concerns+ Answer questions that you can anticipate

˃ Be logged in during the one to two hours before the midnight closing of the course

+ As students have last minute questions or problems be available to chat or receive those emails

Show you care!

» Doing these things and more lets students know you care just as you would in a real classroom setting

» You can save time by keeping and just revising postings when possible˃Make sure they know you are there for

them!

The End!!!

Student engagement

» Creating Course Success1. Organization2. Time3. Communication

ARE YOU READY TO TEACH ONLINE?

» Creating Course Success1. Course site organization2. Keep students engaged; let them know you are there. 3. Giving timely feedback in grading is essential4. Monitor and train students early in course discussions 5. Communicating with students via email – holding office hours

Are you ready to teach online?

» Creating Course Success˃ What gives you a hint early on that a class may not be as good of a

course as you would like?1. Course organization

Are you ready to teach online

» Creating Course Success˃ What do you think when you log into a course site and the first few

days you haven’t seen anything but the welcome announcement from the instructor?

˃ How are students often welcomed on the first day in a traditional classroom?

˃ Keep students engaged by letting them know you are there

Are you ready to teach online?

» Keeping students engaged by letting them know you are there:˃ Respond to every student’s welcome message ˃ Have an assignment early on, where you ask for their telephone

number and let them know you may call them if necessary˃ Send weekly and sometimes bi-weekly reminder messages

Are you ready to teach online?

» Creating Course Success˃ What do you consider to be good feedback from an instructor?

» Grade and give feedback in a timely manner!˃ Examples of graded papers˃ Tell students when they should expect papers back˃ Always grade assignments before the next is due˃ If there will be delays own up to it; tell them why

Are you ready to teach online?

» Creating Course Success˃ What kinds of problems may require a face-to-face meeting (use of office hours)

with a student?

» The importance of communicating with students via email = office hours

+ Respond to emails daily+ Be prepared to respond with a lot of detail to really get to the heart of the

concern.+ When a student seems just not to get it, take the initiative to call the student

and hopefully resolve the problem before there is a need for real office hours

Are you ready to teach online?

» Creating Course Success - Summary˃ Course site organization ˃ Keep students engaged by letting them know you are available and

the course is not automated.˃ Grade online and give timely feedback˃ Monitor and train students early in course discussions ˃ Communicate with students via email quickly to make – office hours

less likely

» Ultimately teaching online requires just as great a time commitment and sometimes more than in classroom teaching