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

As an instructor you will need to become familiar with the course management system (CMS) that your institute uses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). “Some of the most used systems in higher education are Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, WebStudy, and Sakai” (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The following chart list the basic skills an instructor needs to tackle prior to the course begins.

Table 4.1 (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010)
Basic Skills and Tools for using a Course Management System
1. Requesting or arranging for a course template
2. Uploading document and pictures
3. Updating and revising documents
4. Setting up and creating discussion forums
5. Setting up and using the grade book
6. Setting up teams and groups

 

Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?

Clear guidelines about what is expected of the learner need to be communicated and make a significant impact in student understanding and satisfaction in an online course (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).

The course rubric has eight sections that address the key elements of online courses (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).

Course overview and Introduction	Learning objectives and outcomes
Assessment and Measurement	Resources and Materials
Learner Interaction	Course technology
Learner Support	Accessibility

Example of clearly communicating teacher expectations prior to the course.

 

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

Presences

As an instructor you need to create a presence socially, teaching, and cognitive the presence of the instructor increases the success of the learning environment (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). Initiating a getting to know me and you post at the beginning of the course helps to establish community. This non-academic process enables students to relate to you and to their peers and feel less isolation as an online student.

Know Students Individually

You not only want to know students in the social context of their lives you want to know what they know and what they want to learn when they complete the course (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).

Weekly Rhythm

Regular weekly assignments and activities keep students engaged with teh course content. A weekly schedule makes expectations clear and helps students plan their daily personal and work lives (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).

Discussion Boards

Learners process, analyze, and make connections among ideas this is what changes the learners knowledge and rustructures their brain (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). The activities help students think deeper about the material and synthesize the information.

Other Things to Consider

Are kids different because of digital media?

How do we understand the learning styles of the Net Generation?

What are the best practices in online learning and teaching?

What is the Next Geneartion Learning? Check out this exciting video created by a student in the UK and see how exciting technology in the classroom can be. Technology makes learning faster, more enjoyable, engaging, can keep all work for future reference, you can not be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow with knowledge of technology. Students who use technology and stay abreast of current trends in the market place are more employable than students who are taught in a traditional educational environment.

Works Cited

Learning Styles of the Net Generation. (2009, March 1). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzX21oQx94w

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R.-M. (2010). The Online Teaching Survival Guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Higher Education.

Conrad, R. &. (2004). Engaging the Online Learner. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.

Foundation, T. M. (2006, December 18). Are kids different because of digital media? Retrieved March 20, 2011, from YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-PT3vEjw5g

Insidethecomputer. (2008, January 11). Best Practices in Online Learning and Teaching. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIu8e3I67HQ

Nextgenlearning. (2009, May 11). What is Next Generation Learning? Retrieved March 11, 2011, from YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dBT9mmizL8

Schmidt, S. P. (2007, February 25). Distance Learning- It's Real Education. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an8rZyqCXW0

 

Online Learning Communities

Facilitator’s role might not be apparent so they need to explain to students how they will be supporting them in learning community approach(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  You can use learning communities in any context. Learning communities have to have a purpose to connect the people through an engaging process(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011). There has to be a social presence and method of interactivity to establish a sense of who we are(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  Rules of engagement need to be established such as how students will engage, frequency, meeting compliance with federal guidelines. It’s everyone’s responsibility to create a successful learning environment (Palloff, & Pratt, 2011). 



The instructor is a critical component of the learning community as an equal member. Student satisfaction increases and perception increases because students feel they are more a part of something larger(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  The social pressure to succeed is greater in developed learning communities where students feel a sense of connection. The first two weeks of the course are the critical point of connection in an online learning environment(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  The human approach of connecting with the students early helps to prevent them from dropping out of the course.

New Student Orientation:


• Allows students to know one another
• Introduces students to the Learner-Course Management System
• Orients students to the philosophy of online learning (Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).


Online Learning communities are sustained through:


• Students establishing their own learning goals
• Students working together in groups
• Exploring appropriate resources to answer meaningful questions
• Tasks that are multidisciplinary and authentic, with connections to the real world
• Assessment that is ongoing and performance based
• Products that are shared with an audience beyond the classroom so students are able to add value outside of the learning environment (Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. 2004)
• Posting information
• Addressing problems
• Commenting on activities
• Engaging in activities


Adult learners are easily overwhelmed by the use of technology the use of technology should be to enhance the learning environment not to simply add bells and whistles(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  Learning communities need to be easy to navigate. Make the classroom feel warm and inviting verses cold and formal(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  Instructors need to visit the online classroom multiple times a day for the first two weeks. Welcome students to post a bio and try and relate to students personally. Offering a icebreaker activity helps build a sense of community among learners but should not contain a grade because many learners do not feel comfortable with participating in these activities(Palloff, & Pratt, 2011).  Building a community is the key to a successful online learning community remembering that everyone in the community plays a key part in the environment and that all members are important is essential.


References:



Boettcher, J., & Conrad, R., (2010), The Online teaching Survival Guide. Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips. San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.


Conrad, R. & Donaldson, J. a. (2004). Engaging the online learner. Activities and resources for creative Instruction. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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