A lot of learning institutions across the world have opted for a blended learning environment. The aim is to accommodate those learners considering distance education courses.
The introduction of online classes has been seen as a real deal by many institutions. But an online learning environment tends to come with a unique set of challenges for both instructors and students.
These challenges are said to affect the performance expectations for both instructors and students. It is clear proof that managing online learning expectations is a daunting experience for both parties involved.
Understanding the online learning expectations for students and teachers is quite important. The information will help to come up with the best practices for online teaching. Keep reading to find out more:
Online Learning Expectations for Teachers?
Teachers usually have a hard time facilitating an online learning environment. Managing students from different learning places can be tricky.
Educators should devise ways to achieve effective online classrooms. However, they should not put their expectations higher since managing online classes come with shortcomings.
Here are some suggestions for successful online teaching:
Be Available
Try to be responsive to your students as an online teacher. Ensure you respond to all inquiries and questions within 48hours. However, it is advisable to inform the learners that it will take a long to respond during odd hours and holidays.
Besides that, provide feedbacks and grades promptly. This will help students to prepare for future coursework. It also helps to uplift the motivation of the learners.
Exercise Professionalism
An online learning environment requires a high level of etiquette. Check on your tone while relaying information to the learners. The trick will help you cultivate respect from students. Professional writings and powerful thoughts are quite crucial for instructors.
Offer Guidance
Guiding helps to put learners on track as far as reading and assignments are concerned. It will help students to plan and submit the classwork on time.
Remember to communicate the goal of the lesson and expectations at the end of the coursework. Always have the habit of providing more practical guidance that aligns with the learner’s career.
Obtain Experience
Teaching both in-person and online is more experience. It would be best if you shared your expertise with learners through discussion forums and grading feedback.
The best way to demonstrate your expertise is by sharing more sources and references relevant to coursework. Try to connect the concepts with real-world settings.
Technological Aptitude
Mastering an online learning platform is quite crucial for instructors. The knowledge will enable you to take full advantage and administer your course operation smoothly.
Research shows that an experienced online tutor will recognize tools that can make learners’ work look simple. Have the desire to explore modern technology and come up with tricks that make work easier.
Teach about Plagiarism
Develop the habit of checking the work of the student to confirm if it is original. It will help you if the students are cheating online. Therefore, be proactive and teach the learners about plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Best Practices for Online Teaching?
The online learning environment comes with some drawbacks that tend to affect instructors’ performance. Understanding the best practices and expectations for online teaching happens to be a real gem.
Keep in mind that a quality online learning environment can be achieved after identifying the class’s minimum level of interaction. This demonstrates that both teachers and students are the crucial players.
Consider the following as some of the best practices:
Follow the Establish Schedule
Each institution has a unique course start and end date. When students register for the courses, they will expect to start and end as stipulated in the term schedule.
Stick to the Guidelines for Managing your Course
The guidelines are used to document vital things to be done daily, weekly and semester basis. The key to managing online learning is following the guideline consistently.
Have a regular discussion with students and assure them of support throughout the semester. The trick will spark motivation and improve their confidence.
Monitor Communication and Assignment Submission
Always have the habit of reminding your students about the upcoming deadlines for the classwork and assignment. The communication will help ensure a successful learning experience.
Try also to come up with proactive course management strategies. It is advisable to create and note the post in the class group. The note should outline an overview of the next lesson.
Establish a Course Class Schedule
This should be done early in the course. It let the students know when to log into the learning platform for a lesson. Identify the time that suits your learners, and it is also convenient for you. The schedule will help prevent conflict of lessons.
Provide Prior Notice for Classes to be Missed
Always communicate to your students if you will be unable to log into the course some days. This could be due to professional travel or attending to administrative duties.
Besides that, try to find ways on how to cover for the time lost. This will help to cover the topics pending before their final assessment.
Provide Feedbacks to Students
Try to be responsive to your students by providing feedback to their queries within 24 hours. But this should be during office hours. The good news is that most online learners are good time managers. Remember to inform them about the delay in response in the case of odd hours and holidays.
Use Clear and Concise Language
The use of jargon will make the feedbacks provide to the students to be useless. Also, providing feedback in an untimely manner will not add any value to online learners.
Pay attention to the wording of information and time before responding to the students’ queries. It is the best method of having successful online classes.
Communicate about Grading System and Return of All Assignments
Students are always anxious about their performance after completing their assessments or classwork. It is advisable to inform the learners about your grading system and when to expect all their assignments or assessments.
Create an Environment that Supports Academic Freedom
Give learners the freedom to discuss their subjects. Freedom will enable them to express their opinions without fear of intimidation by any instructor.
Encourage Students to Complete End of Course Survey
Always send each student a note at the end of the course to encourage them to complete the survey. Guarantee the students that the information on the survey will help improve the next semester’s course.
Post-Final Course Grades within Two Business Days
You need to post final course grades on the institution’s platform within two business days. In case of delay due to the course’s nature, try to communicate to the administrator in charge of the grading system.
Familiarize Yourself with Technology
Check the course syllabus about the technical requirements. Familiarize yourself and also inform the students in advance. The trick will help overcome any challenges posed by the equipment before the commencement of online learning.
