The instructor should realize and account for the student experience...ways to address it: offering simple assessments on computer skills needed...introductions at the start of a course (let students post pictures - make it personal), offer links to student resources (including remedial), provide clear schedules, have scheduled instant messaging/chat times, etc.
Additional
instructor roles are:
- Establish rapport with students - make them feel at
ease and encourage them to participate
- Communicate constantly - regular
emails, active involvement in discussion forums (but still allow private
student-only forums)
- Flexibility - often online learners are adults who
have varying time constraints - expect it and accept it
- The instructor is the creator and curator of the online environment - levels of respect, concern for learning, etc. are all set by the instructor. An attitude that accepts failure as critical to learning is needed
It obviously helps the process if the instructor has taken an online course and knows the frustrations and headaches.
High
online dropouts can be (partially) addressed through solid student-centered
course design, student preparation (i.e. bringing to the student's
consciousness the reality of the online experience), clearly communicated
expectations (i.e. instructors), and active instructor involvement in drawing
students into discussions.
Next - Role of Learning Styles
