Friday, March 27, 2009

ONLINE ADJUNCT FACULTY TIP #21 - Informing Students How To Use Blackboard's Digital Dropbox


This post is specific to using Blackboard - but the concept can be generalized to any online learning system. Be explicit in your directions on how students should submit assignments. Remember, you might have first-time-online students in your class. Additionally, students who are unsure of how to post assignments will (1) ask you to confirm receipt of every item that they post or (2) email you each assignment in addition to submitting it - just to "make sure" that you received it. I have posted a screenshot of the "How to Use the Digital Dropbox" guidelines that I post in the ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the class a week prior to the due date of the first assignment. I've found this approach to work very well!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

ONLINE ADJUNCT FACULTY TIP #20 - Notifying students when you will and won't be checking the online classroom


Hour for hour, I put more time for an online course than for any other format. I'm also "on call" much more in the online environment than in other teaching environments. Anyone who thinks he/she will begin teaching online and simply monitor the class a few times a week is in for a rude awakening. Yet, regular, brief check-ins work well - and don't need to take up much time. I try to respond daily (in the evening) to at least 2 discussion thread replies - and ALL posts under the ??? COURSE QUESTIONS ??? thread. I also limit myself to 45 minutes in the classroom. Teaching online can be addictive - and not unlike surfing the Internet. Without parameters, one could easily click away 2-3 hours per night in the virtual classroom. Remember, you don't need to respond to every post - or comment on every issue. Be visible, but don't be omnipresent.