Setting Up an Online Learning Experience

There is a value in knowing the technology available to you because you have a head start on understanding how you can apply the tools to the course at hand. You can also assist students who may or may not have experience with the technology and help them learn how it can be applied to the tasks and assignments at hand and provide them with a clear layout on what you expect the final project to look like. "Focus on the essential tools and build your first course around those tools." (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010) In having experience with the tools, you can provide a quicker form of assistance to students who need troubleshooting with the tools as opposed to waiting for a representative from the "helpdesk" to return a response, which most programs tend to have.

Laying out expectations for a course to the students allows the instructor and students to have a mental map of what will be needed and when it will needed to be submitted for each project or task. Students have to understand what the guidelines are for each course and in sharing expectations, they understand what the objectives and goals will be for that course. It provides them with the idea of what they will learn in the course and how they will be assessed to confirm whether or not they are understanding the material.

One consideration is confirming whether the technology tools provided whether through audio or video platforms, can be accessible on all operating systems, whether MAC or PC or Linux. Also the instructor should advise and confirm that the students have the programs required and that they are  at the most up to date version for optimal performance.

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical  pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Online Learning Communities

How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?

Through the use of forums, sharing of sites and information through links and blogging and an adequate amount of sharing experiences and responses online to peers and other members of the online community. The more knowledge and questions that are shared, the more experiences and feedback that can be provided and reflect each students different mindset or opinion on whatever the subject matter may be.

What are the essential elements of online community building?

Experience in using social networks, useful and accessible forms of media and tools. The opportunity to participate in forums and discussion sites. A form of assistance or help desk for those that may be new to the field of online learning. Having an open mind to the various opinions of others, since the online world is literally a world of its own.

How can online learning communities be sustained?

Through applying new and old technological aspects to the communities at hand so that anyone that chooses to participate in it may have experience in some parts of the tasks suggested and at the same time, provide an opportunity for them to learn about new technologies. By providing students and facilitators with time constraints so that there can be completed tasks without delaying other tasks. 

What is the relationship between community building and effective online instruction?

The relationship is in allowing the participants to have an opportunity to shared and learn from personal experiences on particular subject matters that are within a common range within the online forum.  "Online facilitators set the stage for power sharing to occur in the way they approach learners and provide feedback." (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010, p. 13) In having a mentor or facilitator, this allows the participants and students with the space and opportunity to share their insight while engaging with and respecting others.

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

EIDT-6510

This is my blog for my course work in Instructional Design and Technology at Walden University. I look forward to working with all of you throughout this course. Three more courses left til graduation!!!!!!

Izzi