Visualize your face to face courses. If your students have questions and they take your course face to face, they can pop into your office, stop by your desk in the classroom or meet you in the cafe when you're getting a cup of coffee to get an answer. These are the 'by the way' conversations which can make learning really rich. Those types of informal interactions build community and provide information for students. They are critical to your students' success in your classes. I'll bet you didn't know that! I'll bet you thought that your stellar lectures and carefully crafted activities were all that mattered! These matter. But having a virtual office matters as much to the student as having a physical one does.
Now visualize your online course. How do you have a 'by the way' conversation? One way is through using discussion forums which can simulate the same interactions students have in a face to face course. Discussions help the student feel connected and supported in an online course. As an instructor, this helps you to manage your time and content load as well.
I usually set my courses up with three basic discussions. I title one "I need Help", the next is a "Virtual Cafe" and the third is "For the Professor".
If you have a "I Need Help!" or "FAQ" discussion forum anyone can answer the questions. Another student may know where the quiz is or other question answer long before you had time to pop in and post an answer - that's one less email for you!
If you have a "Virtual Cafe" discussion forum, then the students have a place to have informal personal conversations and get to be friends. This builds a connection to the course. Students who are connected are more likely to complete the course.
If you have a "For the Professor" question forum you gather questions about the material you are covering. This give you a chance to gather information which can impact your teaching. It will let you know where the student is confused, needs more information or the re-framing of information.
With these three forums, you cover a lot of ground which saves doing the same thing over and over again. But there is a big "however". It won't work if you don't set the expectations for interaction and communication in your course. Get in the habit of checking the discussions frequently and expect your students to do so as well. Set email expectations to reserve email for personal and/or emergency situations. Everything else goes on the discussions. I think you'll find that you have more engaged students and with that comes greater success!
Happy New School Year. Let's start it with the plan to have the best online courses in the world!
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