Transcript Teaching Online While Having a Life Suggestions for Making Better Use of Instructors’ and Students’ Time in Online Courses EdCC DL Institute June 19,

Teaching Online While Having a Life
Suggestions for Making Better Use of Instructors’ and
Students’ Time in Online Courses
EdCC DL Institute
June 19, 2006
Andy Williams - Edmonds Community
College
[email protected]
http://faculty.edcc.edu/andy.williams/
So, you are going to teach online?
Perception
Reality
How do you survive?
Basic Assumptions
Instructors want to do a good job.
Students should be able to learn and achieve
from taking the class.
Class should be enjoyable to teach.
Students want to achieve their goals.
Students are willing to invest reasonable time,
energy and resources in learning effort.
Class should be enjoyable to take.
Time Limits
24 hours x 7 Days = 168 total hours.
Rule of Thumb ---> 5 credits = 15 hours per week.
We all have other priorities and responsibilities.
Need to manage time effectively!
Who are our students?
71% intend to transfer to university.
58% are employed.
26% of accounting students have
children or other dependents.
18% do not have a High School
Diploma.
14% International Students.
Who are our students?
• They have other responsibilities and interests.
• My class is not their top priority.
• They don’t have enough time.
• They are ‘underprepared.’
• They need flexible learning opportunities.
When are students online?
On what day of the week are
students most active online?
Why are they enrolled in online classes?
•
Flexibility of online delivery format.
•
Schedule didn’t allow me to attend oncampus.
•
Can’t get to campus.
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
Reasons for Withdrawing
•
I could not handle the combined study plus work or
family responsibilities.
•
The online course was too unstructured for me.
•
I had personal problems.
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
What has the lowest student
satisfaction level for those who
withdrew from online classes?
Interaction with faculty
Source: EdCC & BCC survey of online course non-completers
Improving Class Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Invest time and energy in high-value activities.
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Effectively organize teaching materials.
Instruct students on how to use course resources.
Interaction with students is high-value.
Feedback on assignments is high-value.
• Automate and delegate low-value activities.
• Use tools and resources in Blackboard.
• Make use of non-instructor generated materials.
• Delegate responsibility for some activity to students.
Course Set-up
•Organize course before quarter begins!
•Use previous materials if they were effective.
Use Course Copy tool.
Update if necessary. Avoid duplication.
Delete old/unused/superfluous.
•Pace your class. Organize by weeks/units.
•Use Availability tool to open materials automatically.
•Use the Course Calendar tool.
•Establish a schedule and keep to it.
Online Course Materials
• What materials/techniques do students
actually use?
• What materials/techniques are not
used?
 Limit use of text-based online material
• Supplement materials with technology.
 Visual, Audio, Video
Set-up - Establish Expectations
 Course Contracts/Rules of Engagement
 “How to Take This Course”
 Use introductory survey to define and establish
consent for schedule, time commitment, participation
and other requirements.
Manage Accessibility
• Announce when you will be available, and when
you are not.
• Limit communication tools to what you actually use.
 Avoid Digital Drop Box, Messaging, Chat
• Use discussion board for ALL class questions.
• Use personal email or IM for personal questions,
office hours, advising, etc.
• Batch, summarize and standardize.
• Use the delete key and the remove button.
Managing Discussions
• Plan ahead. Use forums and threads deliberately.
• Delegate and outsource.
 Subject Matter Experts.
• Cut and paste questions into responses.
• Respond on a schedule. Don’t be available 24/7.
• Provide alternate space. (anonymous, rants, etc)
Managing Instructor Workload
 Keeping up with the conversation
 Laissez-faire vs. censorship
 How to stop the conversation!
 Feedback and assessment
 Use the Discussion Grader
 Outreach to non-performers?
Manage Assessments
• If you assign it, you’ll have to grade it!
• Use the Assignment Manager in Bb. Use
Grade Book for individual feedback.
• Use self-graded/auto graded quizzes.
• Communicate standards and feedback time.
• Use Edit features in Word and Excel.
• Post excellent student work as an example.
Manage Yourself
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Set limits and a schedule, and keep to it.
Set deadlines and keep to them.
Use one set of standards for all.
Students’ lack of planning is not an
emergency for instructors.
• Take a break. Take a day off.
Take a real break!
Kathy Murphy’s Tips for Student Success
• Plan ahead
•
Familiarize yourself with Due Dates. You are
responsible for knowing them.
• Check frequently and keep up with new postings in
the Course Work area and Discussion Forum.
• Periodically review the Syllabus and Course
Schedule. Print them out, and post them on a wall,
desk, computer, etc. where you'll be working.
Kathy Murphy’s Tips for Student Success
• Organize Early - Use a large 3-ringed binder to store
and organize course printouts.
• Print-out assignments as reminders. Keep a copy of
the schedule (or schedule updates) near your work
station.
• Copy everything you send to me and your
classmates.
• Have a back-up plan for the inevitable technological
breakdowns.
Kathy Murphy’s Tips for Student Success
• Program Your Day: Plan to devote at least two
hours a day for class work (as you would need to do
to succeed in a “sit-in class).
• Tell friends and family that you are in class during
that time. Create a mock contract or support list if it
will help remind you and others that your designated
work time is "sacred" and that you need as much
support as you can get.
• Work ahead of schedule (but not much more than a
week or two; otherwise you’re defeating the purpose
of class participation)
• Program Your Head: Most students who fail on-line
classes do so because they think they have tomorrow
to do the assignments. There is no tomorrow; there
is only NOW.