Distance Learning is a popular choice for many college students nowadays. After all, what may be more suitable than taking a college class from the comfort of your home (or dorm or office ) computer?
It is still a way of instruction, while distance education has grown over the past couple of decades.
And teaching online requires different skills and expectations. Many faculty members have been reluctant to learn those skills. But putting other stuff and a couple notes from a classroom does not make for a rather effective internet experience.
What are the 3 main skills which you will need to be a online teacher?
1) you have to communicate regularly with the students.
Communication doesn’t mean that you must be on line every hour of every day. But it will mean which you will need to be in contact with students regularly. How often? At least every other day. Instead of teaching at 2-4 hour blocks in a day, just like you would with many college classes, invest 15-45 minutes per day tracking your own online course and answering mails. At the close of the week, the time spent teaching online ought to be comparable to the quantity of time.
2) Be organized & be apparent
Let students know. And put for the course. Let students know you will be on line, so they dont expect a direct response whatever day’s good time. Explain to students how they will be rated, how quickly they will receive comments, how they ought to submit homework, how they ought to contact you, etc.. The students know in advance, the time youll spend responding to issues.
3) Engage the students in the instruction
Lecturing and studying are typical in several campus classes (maybe not they necessarily promote effective studying, but thats another story!) . Teaching online provides the opportunity to reach students in several ways that are different projects, discussions, comparing ideas, sharing knowledge. Use as many ways as possible to engage students, and promote active learning. Minus the boundaries of time which exist in a campus course, and with the capability to talk and share ideas online, not making very good use of those opportunities results in learning minutes that are missing.
There’s no greater way to learn so, before you decide to teach online, choose an internet class yourself than to learn online to teach online.
Youll know what it’s like to learn from a space, without an instructor standing in front of you. Youll know what it’s like to need to wait for replies. And youll learn about the way in which the technology can HELP you teach.
You don’t need to be a technical expert. But you should be:
Comfortable using the web
Familiar with receiving and sending email
Prepared to devote some time establishing your path for the first time
Aware that getting an effective online teacher takes some time (often several classes )
Excited about learning!
Some will say there’s no substitute for viewing the students faces. Others will realize that many students will flourish since they have more time will be fearful of speaking up in front of a group, and to prepare answers.
Teaching online can be rewarding, and quite enjoyable, provided that you’re ready!
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