I personally am not at all interested or in favor of using Facebook and Twitter for educational purposes. I think they are okay when used as general communication tools. For example, East Noble School Corporation has various Twitter accounts set up. A general one that is used to relay information that applies to the entire corporation, this came in handy during the week long school closings! There is a middle school athletics account. It has general info about games etc., and is updated by the middle school Athletic Director. This is great! Facebook can be used for the same, but Facebook anymore is becoming so corrupt with hackers and false accounts. It's kind of scary actually. I am not against experimenting with the use of social media in my classroom, but it will not be Twitter and/or Facebook. It will be something designed specifically towards an educational setting. Even then though...it will not always be hack proof.
I'm just not real comfortable with that.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Making connections in an online environment
How can facilitators in online-only environments build meaningful,
personal relationships with students? How can online instructors
identify struggling students when "reading" eye contact and body
language aren't options?
I've taken A LOT of online courses throughout my life. The one thing I've always hated is I never feel like I have made a relationship with the instructor. The one thing I've always loved is I can do things at my own pace, I don't have to sit in one spot for a long period of time, etc. That being said, I have had some really great instructors for online classes.
I think in an online environment it is a necessity to build some sort of "one-on-one" relationship. Sure, face-to-face or voice-to-voice communication is nice, but I don't think it's necessary. There always has to be a way for the instructor and student to communicate one-on-one and email is great for that. When this type of "meaningful" communication is taking place, the instructor can loosen up the tone somewhat. Speak through the email in an "everyday" sort of tone...relaxed if you will. The same applies to the student, he/she shouldn't feel like he/she has to be all business and professional in an email correspondence with simple questions. It's important for students to know that their instructors are in fact human and are not void of emotion.
The above being said, online communication has to be treated much differently that face-to-face or voice-to-voice. The context or tone intended can be completely lost when communicating via typed or written words only. I know some people hate the "text talk" like "LOL" or "SMH", but those simple inclusions convey to someone that they are being silly with their words or that they are "shaking my head" in sarcasm. You catch the drift. There is a language of communication that allows for a meaningful relationship between instructor and student.
As for identifying when students are "struggling". I would approach this the same way I do in my classroom. I ask. I ask via short reflection questions. The students get a small value completion grade, but that makes it worth their time. The questions are both specific and open-ended. I have learned a TON about some of my students this way. A very similar technique could be used in an online classroom. Have weekly reflections for the students. The big key to this technique working is THE INSTRUCTOR HAS TO ACTUALLY READ THEM AND ACT! I write comments back to my students all the time. They sometimes laugh at what I've written, but at least they know I read their reflection and hopefully that shows them that I do genuinely have an interest in their success in my class.
I've taken A LOT of online courses throughout my life. The one thing I've always hated is I never feel like I have made a relationship with the instructor. The one thing I've always loved is I can do things at my own pace, I don't have to sit in one spot for a long period of time, etc. That being said, I have had some really great instructors for online classes.
I think in an online environment it is a necessity to build some sort of "one-on-one" relationship. Sure, face-to-face or voice-to-voice communication is nice, but I don't think it's necessary. There always has to be a way for the instructor and student to communicate one-on-one and email is great for that. When this type of "meaningful" communication is taking place, the instructor can loosen up the tone somewhat. Speak through the email in an "everyday" sort of tone...relaxed if you will. The same applies to the student, he/she shouldn't feel like he/she has to be all business and professional in an email correspondence with simple questions. It's important for students to know that their instructors are in fact human and are not void of emotion.
The above being said, online communication has to be treated much differently that face-to-face or voice-to-voice. The context or tone intended can be completely lost when communicating via typed or written words only. I know some people hate the "text talk" like "LOL" or "SMH", but those simple inclusions convey to someone that they are being silly with their words or that they are "shaking my head" in sarcasm. You catch the drift. There is a language of communication that allows for a meaningful relationship between instructor and student.
As for identifying when students are "struggling". I would approach this the same way I do in my classroom. I ask. I ask via short reflection questions. The students get a small value completion grade, but that makes it worth their time. The questions are both specific and open-ended. I have learned a TON about some of my students this way. A very similar technique could be used in an online classroom. Have weekly reflections for the students. The big key to this technique working is THE INSTRUCTOR HAS TO ACTUALLY READ THEM AND ACT! I write comments back to my students all the time. They sometimes laugh at what I've written, but at least they know I read their reflection and hopefully that shows them that I do genuinely have an interest in their success in my class.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Beginnings in Blogging
I am new to blogging! I have followed many blogs that friends have had over the years for various things. Usually, they have been a way for them to keep others updated on certain things like illness, babies, etc.
I am excited about the opportunity to create blogs for a classroom setting. I am also interested in blogging as a collaboration tool! I'm not going to lie though...this is a whole new world to me! I even considered myself to be quite "techy".
Well, I'm sure you will see more of me down the road! Stay tuned as we...BLOG away!
~Miss K~
I am excited about the opportunity to create blogs for a classroom setting. I am also interested in blogging as a collaboration tool! I'm not going to lie though...this is a whole new world to me! I even considered myself to be quite "techy".
Well, I'm sure you will see more of me down the road! Stay tuned as we...BLOG away!
~Miss K~
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