Setting up an Online Learning Experience

Setting Up an Online Learning Experience

What is the significance of knowing the technology available to you?

Technology is always changing. It is important to understand what technology is available to you in order to create effective learning experiences for students. Instructors need to not only know what technology is available but also how to use the new technology. Shijuan points out that instructors can use technology in profound ways to improve student learning or they can use the technology in trival ways that have little effect on learning. We should not add technology with all its bells and whistles if it does not lead to improved learning (Laureate Education, n.d.). As an instructor or ID it is important to make sure that any technology that is used in the course is effectively aligned to course goals. It is also to remember to make sure that the technology you want to use is readily available to the students. For example you may not want to use features that are only found in windows 8 since not all students readily have the operating system yet.

Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?

Since there is no face to face interaction between instructors and students communication i seven more important. Givin gclear expectations sets the ground work for the course. Not only should studetns be given assignments ahead of time they need to also have scoring rubrics to understand how they will be assessed. It is also helpful to show examples of expleary work so students who may not learn best by reading about the task can understand the task expectations from looking at the sample student work.Clear expectations also include giving deadlines and feedback. If a student did not mee the highest grading mark it is important that there are clear notes and feedback to students to help them understand what needs to be imporved so there work meets a higher standard the next time.

What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?

As an instuctor it is imporatnt that you realize the students are individuals. They will have there own learning style and personality. It is important to build a rapport with each student. It is important to make sure to give feed back to each student not just a few. As an online instructor you need to set up the parameters for the online community and make sure that interactions are appropriate. Since many classes have students who are from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and age it is important to design learning experiences that can successfully help these students to find common ground and interact in a way that will move the learning forward for all students. The instructor must take care to make sure that the activities they chose are not offensive to any race, gender, cultral or ethnic group. Sometimes we may think it is harmless but others may hve strong feels and emotions connected to the issues.

References

Laureate Education. (n.d.). Online Learning Communities [Video podcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1971765_1%26url%3D

Shijuan, L., (2005). Faculty Use of Technologies in Online Coursesretrieved from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Aug_05/article03.htm

What did you learn that would help you implement effective online instruction in the future?

Setting up an effective online learning experience is much more complicated then simply posting assignments in a CMS. Developing an effective community is key to both student achievement but also to keeping students engaged and satisfied with their education and learning experiences. An ID or instructor needs to carefully plan ahead of time how they will get the students to initially interact and start building that learning community that will be needed for a successful experience for all students and the instructor. A challenge is that you are dealing with students from various backgrounds, experiences, cultural backgrounds and special needs. It is imperitive that these conditions are taken into account so that as many groups as possible feel included and engaged. It is also important that the activities are analyzed to make sure they will not be offensive to any group.

References

Laureate Education. (n.d.). Online Learning Communities [Video podcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1971765_1%26url%3D

Shijuan, L., (2005). Faculty Use of Technologies in Online Coursesretrieved from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Aug_05/article03.htm

Online Learning Community

How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?

As distance learning becomes more popular and more cost efficient for schools we will continue to see the number of students enrolled in such courses increase. In a online learning experience students and instructors must work together to investigate and make sense of the content (Laureate Education, n.d.). In an online education setting students are not face to face with the instructor and other students to take notes and interact. This interaction has been replaced by the online learning community. In an online course students must do more reading, writing, thinking, reflecting and sharing learners (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010, p.7).

Hill and Raven (2000) found high dropout rates and dissatification was directly linked to the lack of an educational community in the online course. It is clear that a solid learning community is essential to keeping students enrolled. The sense of community keeps students engaged and working in the course. The degree that students are satisfied with the learning community has a direct relationship to their learning. If students feel that they are left out and not part of a community will lead to students dissatisifaction with the course and possibly online learning in general.

What are the essential elements of online community building?