ONLINE LEARNING
I think the main role of the instructor, who serves as facilitator, organizer, cheerleader, counselor, and partner, in an online learning environment, is to create a community that is challenging and engaging and that motivates the learners to do their best at all times. The instructional team should establish the guidelines of the course, making sure that interaction and communication in the learning environment keeps some type of social presence active to prevent isolation during the learning.
There should be a balance of opportunities for collaboration, teamwork, and reflection. Guided discussions with asynchronous and synchronous responses help keep the conversations lively and reflective, while administration should tend to agendas, pacing guides, syllabus, and goal-setting. An online learning environment should use a variety of learning activities such as games, videos, interactive quizzes, and similar lessons rather than just text and lectures.
In Saettler’s The Evolution of American Technology, he
talked about providing for the individual learner while working toward specific
objectives. (Saettler, 2004). I agree
with Kurt Lewin’s theory that the “significant factor is where
there is interdependence in the goals of group members” (Smith, 2001). There is nothing quite as motivational as sharing a
common goal and working toward it through a variety of methods with a group.
The process of online learning involves an entire network consisting of the student, peers, instructor, and of course the content and the technology. All must work together to create an effective overall program. Using a Learning Management System that provides learner profiles, connects to the grading system, and helps to provide remediation or enrichment activities would be a dream come true for an online instructor!
Saettler, P. (2004). The Evolution of American
Educational Technology. Greenwich: Information Age Publishing.
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