What is the significance of knowing the technology available to you?
Not knowing the technology available to you, whether as an instructor or as a student, is a quite perilous situation. The problems with not knowing how to operate a certain technology can vary from mild ignorance to almost total ineptness, in the case that one might be teaching in a hybrid or online course setting.
This could certainly change the outcome of the learning experience for every student invcolved and this could result in the instructor's contract for the course not being renewed.
On a lesser basis, not knowing how to use the functions of let's say BlackBoard will hinder students in getting their grades back, It will giove an instructor fewer options as they look for ways-YouTube viodeos, PowerPoint presentations etc- which could help to bolster a lesson for auditory or visual learners. This could also have many other unforeseen troubles too.
In my opinion, it is extyremely important for an instructor to know how to use the available technology to the best of their abilities to make for the best possible learniong experience for their students.
Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?
It is extremely important to clearly communicatye all expectations to students at the beginning of a course because this easily impact the ways in which they approach the course, work in the course, and even if they decide to audit or to drop the course. The clear conveyance of expectations puts everyone on the same page as a new class begins, thus no student can say that they started out at a disadvantage.
Even if this is not done the first day of class, it surely must be done in a clear, concise way within the first few days. This will alow for a better start to the semester and tghus a better flow, in my opinion.
What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?
Certainly, they must considera technology, students, classroom miscellaneous factors, but I feel that it is important to keep in mind the functionality of all programs that are chosen to complete a certain part of a course. Instructors should be familiar with all aspects of the techgnolgy that are relevant to the course sio that they can be sure to supplement lectures, labs, etc. with these things to make for a better overall educational experience for the students, thus they may gain more, additional knowledge from these supplemental materials.
As far as new things that would assist me in setting up an online class, I feel that just the reminder to use all necessary aspects of a given technology to the betterment of the learning experience is a grand thing. I was reminded to do things that I do not do each semester because I have set up BB BlackBoard templates for the courses that I teach and thus I only change these every other semester or so to keep up with my videos dating out or other technical issues, but I can say that this helped me to see that streamlining the info available on these could certainly help student information retention and functionality.
Not knowing the technology available to you, whether as an instructor or as a student, is a quite perilous situation. The problems with not knowing how to operate a certain technology can vary from mild ignorance to almost total ineptness, in the case that one might be teaching in a hybrid or online course setting.
This could certainly change the outcome of the learning experience for every student invcolved and this could result in the instructor's contract for the course not being renewed.
On a lesser basis, not knowing how to use the functions of let's say BlackBoard will hinder students in getting their grades back, It will giove an instructor fewer options as they look for ways-YouTube viodeos, PowerPoint presentations etc- which could help to bolster a lesson for auditory or visual learners. This could also have many other unforeseen troubles too.
In my opinion, it is extyremely important for an instructor to know how to use the available technology to the best of their abilities to make for the best possible learniong experience for their students.
Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?
It is extremely important to clearly communicatye all expectations to students at the beginning of a course because this easily impact the ways in which they approach the course, work in the course, and even if they decide to audit or to drop the course. The clear conveyance of expectations puts everyone on the same page as a new class begins, thus no student can say that they started out at a disadvantage.
Even if this is not done the first day of class, it surely must be done in a clear, concise way within the first few days. This will alow for a better start to the semester and tghus a better flow, in my opinion.
What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?
Certainly, they must considera technology, students, classroom miscellaneous factors, but I feel that it is important to keep in mind the functionality of all programs that are chosen to complete a certain part of a course. Instructors should be familiar with all aspects of the techgnolgy that are relevant to the course sio that they can be sure to supplement lectures, labs, etc. with these things to make for a better overall educational experience for the students, thus they may gain more, additional knowledge from these supplemental materials.
As far as new things that would assist me in setting up an online class, I feel that just the reminder to use all necessary aspects of a given technology to the betterment of the learning experience is a grand thing. I was reminded to do things that I do not do each semester because I have set up BB BlackBoard templates for the courses that I teach and thus I only change these every other semester or so to keep up with my videos dating out or other technical issues, but I can say that this helped me to see that streamlining the info available on these could certainly help student information retention and functionality.
Hi Wes:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. You reminded me of the importance of technology even though we were told that this could be kept simple at least at the earlier stge. I also agree with your points on conveying clear expectations to our learners. This is important as it would minimize misconceptions and would allow the course to go smoother (Boetther & Conrad, 2010).
Reference
Boettcher, J., & Conrad, R., (2010), The Online teaching Survival Guide. Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips. San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteThank you a very good post with an interesting style. I think your writing style is relaxing and gives the reader a good feeling when reading the post. I was not aware there was a Cleveland Community College in Shelby, NC. I trust you do a fine job teaching there.
I agree that it is extremely important for an instructor to know how to use the available technology to the best of their abilities to make for the best possible learning experience for their students as you stated as you stated. It is extremely important to clearly communicate all expectations to students at the beginning of a course because this easily impact the ways in which they approach the course… I think one of the most unique aspects about course work from a student or instructor perspective is that each course is like a new beginning in some respects and there is a definite end…and then, we start all over again, hopefully, a little knowledgeable!
Wes,
ReplyDeleteIn reading your post I found it similar to my own regarding the need for the instructor to be familiar with the current technology that the college will be using. I have asked several questions as we have grown here at Walden and I was always very pleased that my instructors could answer my technical questions.
Yet the most essential element to a positive online experience is the regular and timely interaction of faculty with students (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). This is a clear quality indicator in an online course.
In our courses with Dr. Clauburg I was impressed to see that he uses all of the getting acquainted methods that his colleges mention in the course video. My favorite thing about his courses compared to other instructors is his weekly “Welcome statement” it has truly helped me focus my attention on the weekly expectations. Dr. Clauburg is great at having a large amount of information at the start of a course to help guide you. All the instructors at Walden have set clear expectations for feedback and presence (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). They are all very good at answering questions in the Q/A section and I like that anyone can answer or utilize the answer if they have the same concern.
Works Cited
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R.-M. (2010). The Online Teaching Survival Guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Higher Education.