Having an online learning community where the students can interact with each other will help impact learning and their experiences. The online classmates can provide support, as well as, challenge each other in positive ways in taking the learning to a new level. Students can provide each other professional, honest feedback in a way that an instructor may not be able to, considering the relationship with student-to-student differs from instructor-to-student. Students may feel more comfortable discussing certain projects and topics with each other, and look to the instructor for guidance and knowledge. These communities help to build and foster positive relationships and possible friendships.
It is important for the instructor to create the online community, monitor it, and increase participation. It is important to develop a supportive online course community that balances the dialogue between student-to-student, and student-to-instructor. It may help to section an area of your CMS that will focus solely on discussions, student-to-student interaction, similar to Walden’s “Student Lounge”. It is also important for the instructor to be familiar with the technology of these communication tools and to help make it easy for students to use.
An orientation class would be helpful to teach students how to learn communication tools online. It is important that students are comfortable using these communication tools so this online community will continue and be beneficial to the students.
Effective online instruction includes strategies for developing online communities. According to Conrad and Donaldson (2004), “In a learner-centered environment, those experiences are honored and woven into the academic experience through discussion and activities that provide opportunities for learners to lead (p 19).”
Reference:.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2004). Designing Online Engagement. Engaging the online learner: activities and resources for creative instruction (pp. 16-23). San Francisco , Calif.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteGood post! I agree that the instructor needs to be the one that creates the learning community. At least in the beginning, then as our video suggested it is everyone who has to keep up with the community. I think an orientation is a great idea!! That was one point I didn't touch on in my post, thanks for the reminder. :)
Hi Melisa! I am following your blog. (I'll come back and post a more meaningful reply later.)
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to drop in a say a quick hello.
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