Teaching Online While Having a Life Suggestions for Making Better Use of Instructors

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Teaching Online While Having a LifeSuggestions
for Making Better Use of Instructors and
Students Time in Online Courses

• EdCC DL Institute
• June 19, 2006
• Andy Williams - Edmonds Community College
• andy.williams_at_edcc.edu
• http//faculty.edcc.edu/andy.williams/

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So, you are going to teach online?
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Perception
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Reality
How do you survive?
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Basic Assumptions

• Instructors want to do a good job.
• Students should be able to learn and achieve from
  taking the class.
• Class should be enjoyable to teach.
• Students want to achieve their goals.
• Students are willing to invest reasonable time,
  energy and resources in learning effort.
• Class should be enjoyable to take.

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Time Limits

• 24 hours x 7 Days 168 total hours.
• Rule of Thumb ---gt 5 credits 15 hours per week.
• We all have other priorities and
  responsibilities.
• Need to manage time effectively!

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Who are our students?

71 intend to transfer to university. 58 are
employed. 26 of accounting students have
children or other dependents. 18 do not have a
High School Diploma. 14 International
Students.
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Who are our students?

• They have other responsibilities and interests.
• My class is not their top priority.
• They dont have enough time.
• They are underprepared.
• They need flexible learning opportunities.

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When are students online?
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On what day of the week are students most active
online?
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Why are they enrolled in online classes?

• Flexibility of online delivery format.
• Schedule didnt allow me to attend on-campus.
• Cant get to campus.

Source EdCC BCC survey of online course
non-completers
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Reasons for Withdrawing

• I could not handle the combined study plus work
  or family responsibilities.
• The online course was too unstructured for me.
• I had personal problems.

Source EdCC BCC survey of online course
non-completers
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• What has the lowest student satisfaction level
  for those who withdrew from online classes?
• Interaction with faculty

Source EdCC BCC survey of online course
non-completers
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Improving Class Efficiency and Effectiveness

• Invest time and energy in high-value activities.
  
• Effectively organize teaching materials.
• Instruct students on how to use course resources.
• Interaction with students is high-value.
• Feedback on assignments is high-value.
• Automate and delegate low-value activities.
• Use tools and resources in Blackboard.
• Make use of non-instructor generated materials.
• Delegate responsibility for some activity to
  students.

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Course Set-up

• Organize course before quarter begins!
• Use previous materials if they were effective.
• Use Course Copy tool.
• Update if necessary. Avoid duplication.
• Delete old/unused/superfluous.
• Pace your class. Organize by weeks/units.
• Use Availability tool to open materials
  automatically.
• Use the Course Calendar tool.
• Establish a schedule and keep to it.

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Online Course Materials

• What materials/techniques do students actually
  use?
• What materials/techniques are not used?
• Limit use of text-based online material
• Supplement materials with technology.
• Visual, Audio, Video

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Set-up - Establish Expectations

• Course Contracts/Rules of Engagement
• How to Take This Course
• Use introductory survey to define and establish
  consent for schedule, time commitment,
  participation and other requirements.

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Manage Accessibility

• Announce when you will be available, and when you
  are not.
• Limit communication tools to what you actually
  use.
• Avoid Digital Drop Box, Messaging, Chat
• Use discussion board for ALL class questions.
• Use personal email or IM for personal questions,
  office hours, advising, etc.
• Batch, summarize and standardize.
• Use the delete key and the remove button.

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Managing Discussions

• Plan ahead. Use forums and threads deliberately.
• Delegate and outsource.
• Subject Matter Experts.
• Cut and paste questions into responses.
• Respond on a schedule. Dont be available 24/7.
• Provide alternate space. (anonymous, rants, etc)

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Managing Instructor Workload

• Keeping up with the conversation
• Laissez-faire vs. censorship
• How to stop the conversation!
• Feedback and assessment
• Use the Discussion Grader
• Outreach to non-performers?

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Manage Assessments

• If you assign it, youll have to grade it!
• Use the Assignment Manager in Bb. Use Grade Book
  for individual feedback.
• Use self-graded/auto graded quizzes.
• Communicate standards and feedback time.
• Use Edit features in Word and Excel.
• Post excellent student work as an example.

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Manage Yourself

• Set limits and a schedule, and keep to it.
• Set deadlines and keep to them.
• Use one set of standards for all.
• Students lack of planning is not an emergency
  for instructors.
• Take a break. Take a day off.

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Take a real break!
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Kathy Murphys Tips for Student Success

• Plan ahead
• Familiarize yourself with Due Dates. You are
  responsible for knowing them.
• Check frequently and keep up with new postings in
  the Course Work area and Discussion Forum.
• Periodically review the Syllabus and Course
  Schedule. Print them out, and post them on a
  wall, desk, computer, etc. where you'll be
  working.

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Kathy Murphys Tips for Student Success

• Organize Early - Use a large 3-ringed binder to
  store and organize course printouts.
• Print-out assignments as reminders. Keep a copy
  of the schedule (or schedule updates) near your
  work station.
• Copy everything you send to me and your
  classmates.
• Have a back-up plan for the inevitable
  technological breakdowns.

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Kathy Murphys Tips for Student Success

• Program Your Day Plan to devote at least two
  hours a day for class work (as you would need to
  do to succeed in a sit-in class).
• Tell friends and family that you are in class
  during that time. Create a mock contract or
  support list if it will help remind you and
  others that your designated work time is "sacred"
  and that you need as much support as you can get.
• Work ahead of schedule (but not much more than a
  week or two otherwise youre defeating the
  purpose of class participation)
• Program Your Head Most students who fail
  on-line classes do so because they think they
  have tomorrow to do the assignments. There is
  no tomorrow there is only NOW.