The following is a guest post by Veronica Mason, an academic adviser who enjoys learning about innovations in education, particularly online education.
5 Tips for Teaching Online Classes
Online classes are important in today's college education curriculum. As a recent college graduate, I speak for many students who find themselves balancing work, family, and social obligations with a full college course-load. Online classes provide the flexibility, multimedia experience, and communication platforming that help the modern student succeed. Progressive institutions are increasingly harnessing this powerful tool to educate students around the world. I've taken many online courses, have persevered through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and have five tips for online educators to maximize their students' chances of success.
Tip #1: Recognize the need for flexible due dates.
Why do many students elect to take online courses? Usually, it's because their schedule is prohibiting them from attending the course on-campus during its designated time. Many students work full-time jobs with a variety of shifts ? morning, evening, graveyard ? that make the traditional school schedule impossible. Some students have the responsibility of caring for family members or children. Other students augment their already-full class schedule with an online class in hopes of graduating earlier, or saving on tuition. Regardless, students depend on online classes to be flexible in terms of test-taking, assignment dates, and class pace. Rather than mandating a class discussion or test at noon, consider giving students until the end of the day (11:59 PM) to participate.
Tip #2: Centralize links and resources so students can always find them.
When teaching an online class, the whole Internet is your reference library. However, students can waste valuable time when they have to track down websites and articles. Instead of telling students to search for an article with certain keywords, provide a direct link to an article or a downloadable PDF. If you're using a textbook, consider putting a copy or two on reserve (either online or in print) at the library so that they're always available to students.
Tip #3: Use technology to make class more interesting.
Knowing every student has access to a computer gives you more opportunities to teach by different methods. No longer do you need to rely on a lecture or handing out note packets. You can share relevant YouTube videos with the class, for example, or have students record their own audio/video assignments. Presentations and games help students look forward to the class and become more involved, even with each other. Sharing work is easier with the use of online platforms. A Spanish class, for example, might require that students record themselves answering interview questions as part of an assignment. Completed assignments could be viewed not only by the instructor, but by other students in the class as well. Giving students the opportunity to offer constructive criticism about pronunciation, word choice, and body language is far more valuable than simply reading interview Q and As.
Tip #4: Organize class discussion threads and forums to increase student engagement and interaction.
When taking an online class, students can sometimes feel like they?re the only ones taking the course without a class to surround them. They may feel alone and disconnected. Discussions help students feed off one another's opinions and ideas and give them a stage on which to communicate with their peers. Knowing other students are watching motivates them to turn work in on time, think about their comments, and participate in the material. They also give professors a way to gauge the quality of each student's participation ? sincerity, level of interest, creativity ? that online classes otherwise lack.
Tip #5: Be available.
Online classes are still new to many students, and technical difficulties can compound feelings of frustration and misunderstanding. When you encourage students to contact you via phone or email, they become more comfortable and confident about their work. Instructions are sometimes unclear? it happens to the best of us. Emphasize your availability to students and give them the answers they need to succeed. Set office hours so students can meet you face to face. Even if you don't know the answers to technical questions, like problems with the program software, let them know who they can contact for help.
Online classes are different from in-class courses, to be sure, but they are an important tool in the toolbox of institutes of higher education. More and more students are electing to take online courses, and I can say from experience that the lessons and experiences can be just as valuable and important as those found in traditional classroom courses. Provided that you are prepared with the right tools and expectations, students will be able to succeed in your online classes and learn the valuable lessons they need to become successful graduates.
About the Author:
Veronica Mason has worked as an academic adviser for Classes and Careers, a company that helps match students to schools, since graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in education. She enjoys learning about innovations in education, particularly online education.
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Source: http://blog.simplek12.com/education/5-tips-for-teaching-online-classes/
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