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- Which free wiki provider should I use?
- What makes an online exam bad?
- Assessment in eLearning
Teacher- Student interactions and communications in eLearning.
April 2nd, 2008
One of the follies of eLearning teachers and administrators is thinking that once their virtual classroom is set up, there is no work left for them to do.
You may have readings, links, presentations, videos, explanations, interactive media, and a plethora of other materials online, but that doesn’t mean your students will use them, or engage with them properly, or even know that they’re there.
The other side of the scale is that sometimes eLearning is used in conjunction with your classroom learning. Does that mean that you don’t have to interact with your students online, because you are already teaching them in class? The more your students see you using the virtual classroom, and the more accessible you are online, the more they will be inclined to participate and use it how you’ve designed it.
A great way to enhance teacher- students interactions and communications is using google talk. You can embed a google talk badge into your blog or virtual classroom, easily. All you need is a google account. Then, when you are signed in to gmail (this can be via any i.m client) you will appear ‘online’ on the site, and your students can chat to you.
This is a clear benefit over a chat system on the training site, because you don’t have to be on the training site for students to contact you and ask for immediate help.
Another really important thing to enhance teacher-student interactions and communications is active participation in any online activities like forums and wikis. BUT remember not to dominate conversation, or control what is happening. this should be a place where students can collaborate together, and you can offer support, or ask questions to enhance their cognitive development on the subject.
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April 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Hi Talia. Congratulations for your excellent blog and the great ideas you give through it.
about this one.
I completely agree with you on this one: establishing an e-learning environment doesn’t decrease the teacher’s workload, on the contrary!
Somehow the teacher allows students to access information, tasks, projects… even when the teacher is not there. But they will do it only if they see that the teacher is there anyway, if they understand that they are not alone, that their effort is being followed.
One of the main reasons I am exploring this field is that I want my students not to think of the subject I teach only on Wed evening because on Thu morning we have a class, something we know is not conducive to great learning, but that happens more and more frequently in my corner of the world. A virtual classroom is something that can be exciting because it resembles things students do on the net, but with a different purpose; it can help motivation, give different keys to learning… But an empty virtual classroom is as empty as a real one. Students want people to be there. Students (and parents) want their (advanced and brave) teacher to be there, always. Or at least when they are needed there.
One point I would like to hear your opinion and tips about is evaluation and assessment in e-learning. I feel a bit… clueless
I’ll keep in touch.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Alessandro Allegri » Hi! Thanks for your support, it’s always good to know that some people agree with me!
I totally agree with you about the empty virtual classroom- with my electrical apprentices at the moment I am finding it a challenge to get them more involved.
I will write a post about my thoughts of evaluation and assessment in eLearning and let you know when it’s posted!
Thanks again,
Talia