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

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

• Conference on Accounting Education
• October, 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 the learning effort.
• Class should be enjoyable to take.

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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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They use technology

• 75 of online teens use Instant Messenger.
• 51 of online teens download music.
• 91 of all adults online use email.
• 73 of all adults online use internet to get
  news.

Source Pew Internet and American Life Project
Surveys
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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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Communication with Students

• Why dont they get it?
• If they would just follow the instructions.
• Cant they read?
• Why are they taking an online class, anyway?

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Communication with Students
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Online Course Materials

• What materials/techniques do students actually
  use?
• What materials/techniques are not used?
• How should I supplement materials with technology?

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Instructor-generated Materials

• I read the Course Materials posted in
  Blackboard, such as the instructor's notes and
  letters before I attempt the homework
  assignments.

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Instructor-generated Materials

• The Course Materials, such as the instructor's
  notes and letters, posted in Blackboard are
  helpful in understanding the learning objectives
  of the class.

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Publisher Website

• I read the materials posted on the Textbook
  Publisher's Website before I attempt the homework
  assignments.

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Discussion Board

• The postings in the discussion forum are
  helpful in understanding the learning objectives
  of the class.

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Discussion Board

• I read the postings in the discussion forum.

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The Textbook

• The textbook is helpful in understanding the
  learning objectives of the class.

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The Textbook

• I read the assigned reading from the textbook
  before I attempt the homework assignments.

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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 a Calendar.
• Establish a schedule and keep to it.

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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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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.
• 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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A solution - Use Technology to Talk to Students
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Whats a Podcast?

• Podcasting is the method of distributing
  multimedia files, such as audio programs or music
  videos, over the Internet for playback on mobile
  devices and personal computers.
• Podcasting's essence is about creating content
  (audio or video) for an audience that wants to
  listen or watch when they want, where they want,
  and how they want.
• Wikipedia

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Sample Podcasts

• AW Web Pages
• University of Washington
• iTunes University
• UC Berkeley on iTunes

• Mr. Excel Video Podcast
• CPA Podcasts
• Podcast Alley
• Podzinger
• Education Podcast Network

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Berkeley iTunes Site
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UC Berkeley - Intro to Computers
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EdCC iTunes Site
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Student Comments

• It was a pleasant surprise to be greeted with a
  podcast welcoming me to the class at the
  beginning of the course.
• Now with the podcast I feel that I have even
  more of an opportunity to be successful in this
  course.
• I like having your lecture notes and the
  podcast, it makes it seem like it's more class
  room like.

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Why add Podcasts to Course Materials?

• Audio connection with students
• Easier heard than read?
• Time shifting - Convenient and flexible
• Technology comfort level

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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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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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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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Tips for Student Success

• Program Your Day Plan to devote at least
  fifteen hours a week for class work, as you would
  need to do to succeed in a face-to-face class.
• Work ahead of schedule and consistently
  throughout the week. Dont wait until the last
  minute to do it all!
• Create a contract or support list to remind you
  and others that your designated work time is
  "sacred" and that you need as much support as you
  can get.
• 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.

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Take a real break!