How Can Learning Theory Inform our Practice?

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Behaviorism posits that students need reinforcement. I think we all realize this is true.  Students need not only responses from their mentor they also need them from others in the class. Online students are usually very busy and if a discussion is not graded they will probably not do it.

Congnitivism posits that human memory can be both short term and long term. Obviously we want the students to incorporate the concepts in our classes into long term memory.  Case studies and simulations can help students apply the concepts in the class. I just finished an interesting book; "How We Learn" by Benedict Cary. He believes in self quizzing. I think this is true, and there are now many sites on the Internet, like Khan Academy  that can help your students if they are struggling with math. I have been told that the Statistics resources are worthwhile.

Constructivism posits that learners construct knowledge.  This is no excuse for a “hands off” approach. Students still need the foundation on which to construct. If students do not have a foundation then trying to build on it is doomed to failure. Group work should not be used to avoid teacher guidance.

Many factors influence learning. We can provide the setting, but it is the student's responsibility to do the work. Controlling content is important.

Strategies to increase self sufficiency

• Good rubrics
• Prompt feedback
• Formative exams with opportunities to retake until satisfied with the score ( I often do this with a Syllabus quiz - highest grade counts and students can take as many times as they want. It is important that they learn this material!)
• Reflections
• One-minute papers 

 Carey, Benedict. (2014). How we learn: the surprising truth about when, where and why it happens. New York, NY: Random House. 

Pictures of Students and Faculty in Online Classes

Should online teacher/mentors require students in online classes to post their picture?  Having a picture really helps online teacher/mentors and helps students keep track of each other. However, some students really do not want their picture in the class, even though it is a password protected site. In one class I had a police officer who often worked undercover, in another class I had a student who was being cyber bullied. Although Learning Management Systems like Moodle and Blackboard seem secure, remember that what is put into the profile is available to ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS, not just the mentor. Students are savvy enough to know how to copy and paste the picture into their computer, and how to manipulate it and post in an online Social Media site.

We cannot force students to update their profile but we can suggest that they might like to add a picture of their pet or a favorite scene.  We also need to be sure that they know how to do this. In most Learning Management Systems their profile does follow them through all their courses.

When I first started teaching online, which was in 1997, I was very surprised that at the end of the classes I often had students email me that they were so happy to be judged on their work, not their looks. I thought about this and must agree that we do judge people, subconsciously perhaps, on their looks.

What about posting the picture of the online/teacher/mentor?

First a funny story: I taught for an institution that puts instructor pictures on their Web site. I started teaching for them in 2002 so the picture is old. This year I emailed the head of the program, who has never seen me, with a new picture. He immediately emailed back that he was not going to put the new picture on the web site because it was “Not flattering” – but it really looks just like me! 

One of my online teachers when I was a Dean of Distance Education went to Glamor Shots in the Mall and had a picture taken there to put in the class. She said when students came to her office to see her they looked twice because they did not think it was her! Another teacher put Mona Lisa as her picture.  

My solution is to add an avatar. There are now many sites, which you can find at http://eduhowto.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/15-free-safe-avatar-creators/ 

However, I do post my picture at the end of the class.

 

Best Idea for Online Course Construction

• Build class around objectives
• Use the tools provided by the Learning Management System like Moodle or Blackboard.
• Some exercises should be discussions. 
• In every unit have a "Red Me First" so that students are reminded as to what is due
• In the Syllabus provide objectives at unit and week levels along with information resources
• Have a short required exercise at the START of the class on the Syllabus. It should be graded, but not worth a lot of points. 
• Use color appropriately to give students a clue to different topics
• Encourage student feedback throughout the course
• Use a calendar with links to the assignments 
• If many of the students are new to online then make very clear that this is not a self paced course. There are deadlines that must be met. 
• View courses developed by other instructors

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