Setting Up An Online Learning Experience

Establishing an Online Experience

The online learning environment is an important part to education to provide a positive and open environment for students. Building a useful tool for students provide the opportunity for students to acquire skills. The tools provide, “more opportunities that are made available to students to increase their comfort level with course tools, the sooner the actual course content can be introduced” (Conrad & Donaldson, 2011). It is important to have a tool that prepares the student before the course launch. Another important tip to have is developing a communication method. Technical issues do arise and how to resolve.

Technology Available

There are many kinds of technology tools that an instructor can integrate into their online learning. The instructor must research the best technology for their students. The technology can be an effective way to help students in the course.

Communicating Expectations

A key to create an online learning environment is communication a clear expectation to students. The online course provides many different ways to communicate. “Clarifying how all this work and sometimes might not work can help create a smooth and trusting learning environment” (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).

A well design rubric is one way to communicate the objective of the course to the student. The instructor needs to expresses the expectation to the students on the first day of the course.

Additional Consideration

An essential part to an online course it is the use of a syllabus that details the assignment, weekly plans, and discussion post. A course site is designed to increase the interaction between student and instructor. The online environment is a great place to gather all the resources of the course.

References:

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R.-M. (2010). Theoretical foundations: Ten core learning principles. In The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips (pp. 18-35). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Online Learning Community

How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?

 

An online learning community is a place where the Internet pulls individuals together as a team. The peer interaction in the community creates a more dynamic way for a learner to learn. The online community is design to provide an active learning environment. The instructor is involve in the classroom room discussions but not the center of attention (Palloff & Pratt, 2011). They are responsible to provide a healthier and fun environment. The learner is eager to learner in warm and open learning environment. An instructor’s role plays a sufficient part as a viewer to make sure the individuals in the course are participating in the course activities. The people in a community work together with a common goal in mind.

There are many benefits of the learning community:

    1. Being part of a bigger group

    2. Social pressure to succeed

    3. Become more knowledgeable

What are the essential elements of online community building?

An instructor must make it known that they are available to provide support throughout the course. It is important for a leaner to be engage without the activities. Each activity is, “used for online engaged learning should be analyzed to determine which level of thinking it requires and to ensure that there is a mix of activities for varying level of thinking (Conrad & Donaldson, 2011). Not all activities can be converted to an online environment. It is up to the instructor to design activities that eagers interaction among individuals.

How can online learning communities be sustained?

To maintain the learning community is by stimulating the learner with more knowledge. The instructor and the student must become a partner in the community. The learning environment is not just up to the student but also the community.

What is the relationship between community building and effective online instruction?

 

A strong relationship within the community can help learners obtain information and make it meaningful. The learner can build trust and personal connections within the community. When a learner is comfortable in an environment, they are more willing to be part of a team and work towards a common goal. 

Resources:

Conrad, R.-M., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Learning in an online environment. In Engaging the Online Leaner (pp. 1-14). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Palloff, R., & Pratt, K. (n.d.). Online Learning Communities [video]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live/ecollege.com

EIDT-6510-2 Online Instructional Strategies

Hi All,

Welcome to my blog. I am very eager to learn a quite deal of information about online strategies.

Katie