Week Two: What issues must a teacher consider that are specific to teaching in an online environment?

Some issues specific to an online teaching environment:
1. Facilitate learning to different learners around the world, but during a specific time frame or semester
2. Provide multiple paths to learning for students with learning disabilities that the facilitator may not even know about
3. Provide an opportunity for student collaboration, even if they are 1000 miles apart
4. Allow for asynchronous interactions by students and foster learning and a sense of camraderie
5. Students must have access to contributions by other students
6. Develop a learning environment conducive to many nationalities and cultures
7. Provide many "links" or assignments for students to choose from, to customize their own learning based upon their interests.
8. Provide an environment where the student does not feel alone, lost, or frustrated
9. Find a way to get to "know" the student, so a relationship can be formed
from Journal of Distance Learning AdministrationSheldon L. Stick, Ph.D.ProfessorCollege of Education and Human SciencesDepartment of Educational AdministrationUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nataliya V. Ivankova, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Education Department of Human StudiesUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Reference: Yang, Cornelius, Online Journal of Distance Learning Education, Preparing Instructors for Quality Online Instruction, Spring 2005, Volume VIII, Number 1,
http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring81/yang81.htm

Week Two: Describe the qualities of a successful online teacher

Before I discuss the qualities of a successful online teacher, I want to discuss the skills needed. An online teacher must have some basic technical skills, such as file management skills, email and attachment skills, Internet browsing and searching tools, and word processing skills. However, it seems that technology skills are not as important as educator pedagogical skills. Technical support is available everywhere today, schools and universities included. It is more important that a teacher understand educational strategies than technology when teachng online.

One of the most important qualities needed is flexibility, being willing to help students 24 hours a day. Many students are enrolled in a class because of a need for flexibility and they will be signing on at all hours of the day. In addition, a student may be taking the class because of a need for the flexibility of "online" due to family obligations. An instructor should set deadlines, but be willing to allow a good student flexibility when family must come first.

The teacher must have the drive to disseminate information in a timely manner. Online students are still looking for structure and to see the total picture. The online teacher must be willing to update him or herself, as technology changes rapidly and therefore, so does the online teaching.

The online teacher must have the ability to respect all learners. Adults, in particular, have a need to understand relevance for the subject matter. Adult learners have had many life experiences and sometimes already have a goal. The online teacher must respect that the adult wants to learn around subject matter that can better his or her position in life.

An important quality is creativity. The teacher must have the ability to create challenging assignments that will interest the learner and keep the learner motivated. The assignment must also foster discussion with the peers online.

The teacher must be kind and optomistic, praising the learner for good work and reinforcing the positive behavior that the learner has demonstrated.

The teacher must be able to listen to faculty and administrative concerns as well as copyright issues. http://www.westga.edu/~distance/rockwell24.html

Week Two: What percentage of students drop out of online courses?

Fifty percent of students drop out of online courses! (http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter64/brooks64.htm , Brooks, 2003 Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, How the Attitudes of Instructors, Students, Course Administrators, and Course Designers Affects the Quality of an
Online Learning Environment, Winter 2003 - Volume VI, Number IV) One of the reasons that a student may drop out is that he or she enrolled in the course for the wrong reasons. Many times a student may have the perception that there are no deadlines or structure to an online course, that it is easy and does not take much study time. A student may also perceive that all the lessons will be available online and that there will be no collaboration or time spent offline. It could be the exact opposite. Many online classes (like the ones I took at Boise State University) require many hours a week of dedication and some structure and collaboration with other students. Another reason may be that a student needs auditory or face-to-face contact to learn. Many students also need support from other students and may not know how to find it in an online course. Lack of skills in technology tools is sometimes a reason. Students need to realize that they can enhance and improve their technology skills in an online learning situation if they have the desire to stick with the course for just that reason. Finally, some students drop out for family and personal reasons, and that reason is usually not documented by research.

For the reasons stated, the burden for keeping a student enrolled in an online class seems to be on the instructor and ultimately, on the University. Instructors need to outline well ahead of the time, the syllabus, with a timeline, and the technology skills needed.

First Post as Online Teacher Blogger

JensenBlog was created in July of 2006 when I attended the "High School's New Face" curriculum camp in Western New York. This camp was sponsored by BOCES and "21st Century" funds. Teachers from all over Western New York attended and we were taught how to create and use blogs and wikis in the high school classroom. We also learned how to subscribe to rss feeds using a bloglines account.

I am looking forward to using this blog now to share my reflections with my classmates for the "Online Teaching" Class.