Expectations - COMPONENT 3 - Instructor Attitude

Expect more from your students and you will get more from your students.  It is proven in all walks of life that high expections yields more and better production.  It does not matter what level of student you are dealing with high but reasonable expectations will increase their production in your class.  No matter where the bar is set the majority of students will strive to reach it.  A student that refuses to perform may not attempt to reach what is expected of him but that student would not have reached any expectation set of him.  As long as the expectation is realistic students will attempt to reach it and some will be successful but almost all will reach higher because of the higher expectation.  Low expectations, even high performers will only reach for what you set for them.

Expectations - Time on Task Increases Learning

Time combined with energy accomplishes learning for students.  Nothing accomplishes learning more than time spent on task.  Learning to prioritize and have effective time management is crucial for all students but is even more important for distance learners.  Time expectations from an instructor for his students establishes basis for high performance for students.  An effective instructor must accurately gauge how much time is needed for assignments and tasks requested from the students.  If instructors give too much time for a task the student does not get the most out of time in the course.  If a student is given too little time for a task the student exhibits stress, anxiety, and will not benefit fully from the task.  Assignments are best spread throughout the duration of the semester so that the student stays actively engaged in his learning therefore getting the most out of the course.  Due dates and deadlines are clearly stated and communicated to the student.  Policies on late work should also be clearly communicated.

Learning Styles - Component 4 - Take a Quiz

http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz  Do not sign up unless you want to print your results.  Signing up is NOT necessary to take the quiz.  Have FUN!

What type learner were you?  What type of activities would you enjoy seeing more of in distance learning?

Learning Styles - Respecting Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

Good Instructors consider that their students have varying learning styles and attempt to appeal to as many different learning styles as possible.  One way for an instructor to do this is to allow students to choose their own topics for projects and research papers.  Good instructors encourage students to state their opinions and viewpoints.  An effective method of learning more about the student and their respective learning styles is to have icebreakers that ask for student background and interest. 
The link above is provided for you to take a quiz to find out what your learning style could be. 
Take the quiz to determine what type learner you are, as you understand your own style and read about them all (including their mantras), you can understand other styles better.

The Student and The Instructor - COMPONENT 5

Good learning, like good work, is collaborative and social, with no competition and not isolated.  Students learn from one another.  The sharing of experiences and ideas enhances thought processing and  increases understanding. 
This can be accomplished by assigning students group work or projects.  Having students evaluate one anothers work is another was to accomplish a sense of community among the students. 
Discussion Questionscan also contribute to the community enhancement if tailored correctly and given topics of sharing one's own experiences and opinions.

Group work has additional challenges in distance learning, what techniques could an instructor incorporate to eliminate or ease some of these challenges?

The Student - Profile

Excellent Reading on Strategies. My partner found this link; I think it is an easy and interesting read! Just click on the text! Information included: Distance Education at A Glance: Profile of the Distant Learner, Development as Learners, and Improving Distance Learning - University of Idaho

The Student - Engagement

Singapore has one of the best educational systems in the world.  Singapore has realized that teaching with technology is engaging.  I know this is face to face but I thought it connected with our distance learning strategy because it speaks to student engagement.  In all forms of education the number one and most important strategy and factor is student engagement.  Your knowledge, material, content, or concept can't take hold if you can't engage your students.  I think this is especially challenging in the online learning environment.

With distance learning how do you think we can keep students engaged?  How can we monitor that engagement to ensure that it is happening?

The Student - Attention

Although the presenter in this video begins by saying it is difficult for an online learner to just listen to content, that is how she presents her ideas in this video.  Nonetheless, she makes some valid points if you can focus for the few minutes of the video.

The Student - Active in Learning

Encourages Active Learning
In order to maximize student learning the learner must be engaged and active in the learning process.  The best way to accomplish this is to have the student be active by doing.  A student will learn the most and best by actually taking the knowledge imparted by the instructor and incorporating into an activity or project that uses the knowledge.  Below are some examples for particular classes and how a student can be active in the learning process.
Mathematics a student could take part in elluminate sessions with the instructor where he/she could take part in demonstrating a problem.
Web Authoring class a student could build his/her own website.
Instructional Design the student must build his/her own instructional design project.
Designing web based instruction a student must build a lesson using technology such as elluminate, camtasia, or jing.
We all learn by doing and being an active part of our education.

Can you think of an example of active learning that YOU would incorporate into your online course?

The Instructor - Feedback

Instructor Feedback
Instructor feedback is even more important in an online learning environment due to the limited modes of communication. 
Students need feedback in a timely manner in order to continue to grow in the content.  Feedback should be given in the same amount of time that the student was given to complete the assignment.  
Feedback should be clear and concise but valuable and informative.  In the online learning environment there are many different requirements of the student and the instructor should give feedback in all areas.
It is important that the instructor be just as active of a participant in the discussion boards as he/she expects the students to be. 
Grades are a part of feedback and students deserve grades in a fair and timely manner so they can learn from their mistakes and improve upon their work.  Without grades the student does not know his/her successes or failures.  Students learn from their successes and failures and adapt and change.

In taking online classes have you alwaysgotten timely feedback?  How about meaningful feedback?

The Instructor - Relationships

Instructor-Student Relationship
Distance learning strategies are often not very different from the traditional face-to-face instruction.  Instructor-Student relationship has always been an important factor for student success and student achievement.  If a student feels a connection to his/her instructor there is more of a commitment on the students part to take part in the class and to participate.  Knowing a faculty member well can increase a students' intellectual commitment and to think about their future educational plans and future.
To facilitate this the instructor needs to be responsive to the student.  Communicate in a timely manner with the students.  Communicate a time frame in which you will get back to students.  Inform students of the times when you will be away.  When responding ensure that all concerns or questions were addressed. 
Tell us about one of your best or worst memories of an Instructor/Student Relationship.