I am taking a good hard look at the Research Proposal submitted to Dr. Jones. It was hastily done and not complete enough. However, if I expand it in scope, language and referencing, I may have most of my expert paper done. I want to limit it to online learning and not include teleconferencing and other distance technologies. I would also like reference perceptions about communications in online learning.
I found an article that addressed some of my concerns as an online Instructor. It is called The Effectiveness and Development of Online Discussion by Olla Najah Al-Shalchi from William and Mary Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. I am pleased to say that my conclusions on how to generate interest in, at least, asynchronous discussion mirrored theirs. Motivation was of particular interest to me. I provide rubrics and I think this is essential. Why keep your expectations a secret?
I am still quite concerned about asynchronous communications. I think in the future that I shall take a vote on when they want me to offer office hours. If it is a late hour, then I guess I'll just have to take a nap prior to their preferred time. I am of the opinion that this is one of the reasons that the synchronous office hours are poorly attended - the student does not have a choice in what time they are offered.
What do you guys think of my plan for finishing this thing up?
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For what it's worth, I think your intuition regarding a need to incorporate synchronous meeting times into your classes is spot on. I greatly appreciate and value when online professors make themselves available in this way. I wish this class would have had some of them but I also realize that I could have taken the initiative to suggest and host them, myself. I think we all have access to eLluminate. I tried in a past class and no one showed up.
ReplyDeleteI read your article and agree about setting the guidelines for the discussion board and of course making it part of the grade. I've found two things can make online discussion boards work better than normal. Hybrid classes (meets once a week for an hour or so) because they get to know each other a little and it makes them less shy about posting to strangers. The presence of one 'let it all hang out' type student who just posts what they're thinking and if you don't like it ---too bad. It emboldens the others to do the same. Of course it can create problems as well (teach sends lots of calming email).
ReplyDeleteI think that while very few if anyone will show up to live chat, knowing you are there might be of some comfort to them. I have tried it and while I always get one ro two "hellos", I didn't really get any interaction. Several students commented that they liked the thought of me being there, but no real questions or advice seeking.
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