Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE October 2010 ISSN 1302-6488 Volume: 11 Number: 4 Article 12 article "ARE YOU A DREAM COME TRUE OR A NIGHTMARE? DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS IN THE FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE INSTRUCTOR" used a small group to examine what students said were positive and negative characteristics of teachers. The article is found here: http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde40/articles/article_12.htm; the authors,Dr. Barba Aldis PATTON and Dr. Teresa LESAGE are from the University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria, Tx USA. The tables produced are interesting, and the conclusion is: "The first recommendation is for instructors to communicate with their students." Why is that so difficult for so many online instructors?

Sunday, February 20, 2011

I was impressed with the research behind this article and their conclusion:

Social Media
Effects of Twitter in an online environment http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=154-1
“First, there was much enthusiasm and participation noted by professors who use Twitter that was not echoed when a particular graduate student population was surveyed, this should be investigated. Speculated reasoning for this includes that if students are not already used to using Twitter it may appear as an extra chore or homework assignment for which they receive no reward. Second, should Twitter, or any social networking site for that matter, be pushed if students are satisfied with discussion boards? Possibly over the next few years, as LMSs develop and incorporate the ability to contribute to social networking sites from within, use will increase. However, for now, it would seem discussion boards are the place keep in-class participation.”

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Online teaching persona

Good strategies for adding your own "teaching persona" to your online class. I don't agree with everything in this article, but the author makes good points. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/convey-your-online-teaching-persona/
I like the idea of a letter to students before class begins, but I am no longer sure the students need my picture.