Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Online learning and teaching
Having been a student and a teacher in online classes, I have learned that the biggest factor for success is communication. Tone, clarity and timeliness are all essential for both parties in online classes. From my perspective as a student, nothing was more frustrating than "not getting" the content or the instructor's directions. Even more frustrating was the instructor "not getting" my frustrations or problems with the course. Is communication even more important in online classes? What are some pitfalls with online learning?
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Chad Pohlmann cpohlmann1129@oswego308.org
ReplyDeleteI have found online learning/classes to be more rewarding than anyother class that I have taken. I feel that I am able to work at my own pace. I feel that these online classes personalize my environment. But if the teacher and student do not communicate well it can be an issue. Another issue might be the student not being familar how to communicate. The online classes can be overwhelming with the diffrent chat rooms, message boards and such. Its up the the teacher to set expected guidlines and for the students to ask questions.
Yes, communication is important. And that's a two way street, in online classes as elsewhere: the reader has to read attentively, also.
ReplyDeleteI am quickly overwhelmed by the reading required and available (lots of forum posts) in an online class, and skimming is tempting... that makes me an inaccurate decoder of someone else's message, though.
In addition, Mono-faceted me also finds it challenging to keep switching quickly from one forum discussion to another, and mentally pick up and re-enter a conversation from another day.
Angelika
Online communicating can also be misinterepretted. The student or teacher may write something and the receiver can have a different perception as to what was really trying to be said. It is always difficult to get across what you are thinking in written words. At times this can be frustrating. With more use and guidance it does become easier. Rereading is always beneficial in an online atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteAudra
Everyone,
ReplyDeleteYou had excellent points about the pitfalls of online classes. The only way to get the information is by reading, and unfortunately, there are bound to be times that we miss something along the way. I learned that the hard way in my first online class. I tended to think that I was too busy to read carefully, but I needed to go back and reread anyway because I didn't understand what I was supposed to do.