My Online Experiences

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My Experiences Learning Online

I have been and still am an online learner.  Actually, I prefer learning online.  I like the idea that I can learn from the comfort of my home.  Yes, I have learned in the traditional face-to-face classroom.  I have done that a lot.  In comparison, I really do prefer learning online, yet all classes are not always available in this type of setting.  Online and face-to-face learning both have their advantages and their disadvantages.  The reasons why I like to learn online best are many.  I work well independently, and I like and feel comfortable with the computer.  I love to type and do well with technology.  I do not feel the need to see the teacher in order to effectively communicate with him or her.  I am comfortable emailing and am motivated to do my work on my own.  I would rather use my time learning than driving to a class in the cold weather in Wisconsin. 

Online learning is different than offline learning, but of course there are some similarities.

I started teaching online about two years ago.  I will not look back.  Yet somehow I like both types of teaching.  There are different ways of course to teach online.  You can have your students see you or you can teach where they do not ever see their teacher.  I really like how my work is now, where the students do not have to see me.  I like the idea that I can sit in the comfort of my home and do what I love best-teach.  I do not have to dress fancy, and I do not have to go out in the cold weather and put up with snow and ice.  I do not have to worry about gas, or money for gas.  I never have to worry what I am going to wear since my students do not see me anyway.  I don't have to worry how I am going to look. 

If you teach online it helps a lot if you like to type.  I do and that has helped me a lot.  That way I can respond faster to those students who do not have audio on a particular day.  Also liking to write helps me as an online teacher.  Many times my students will hear me typing and they will comment on that.  They might say things like, "I can hear you typing", or "Wow, you type really fast."  I have to, as part of my job, communicate with the team leader and other people I work with concerning the students.  There are tech support people also who can help me to troubleshoot issues that arise during an online session.  It is really helpful to have this assistance available when teaching in an online classroom.

Teachers-Learn as much and read as much about online instruction as possible and strive to improve each and every day!

Online teaching is not for everyone, but it is worth a try. You might like it if you try!

When teaching online, just as in the regular classroom, it is of benefit to your students if you keep their learning styles in mind.  Some students will be more oral and want to talk the aspects of a lesson through with you.  Others are visual learners and will do well with diagrams or graphic organizers that you can draw for them.  Some students do well with hearing the instructions from their teacher, while others can write things out, which works well for kinesetic learners.  Always keep the learning styles of your students in mind, even during online instruction.

Students should be encouraged to ask their teachers a lot of questions, just as you would in the regular classroom.

Take good notes of your students so that when they return next time you can ask them questions and show that you are interested in them.  If a student says a certain hobby is of interest, try to remember that.  Write it down if necessary.  Then next time you can relate it to the lesson it will engage your student in the learning process.

Ask your students many higher order thinking questions when you are teaching them online.  Ask them things like how they figured out the problem, how they could solve the problem differently, or have them make up their own problems.  Doing these things stretches the mind like no other way can and shows that the student understands the lesson's concepts.

Ask your students their opinions on their lessons and how you instruct them.  Your students will be your best teachers.  You also can tell from how they react how well you are doing.  You will see if they learn and understand certain concepts how well you actually taught a lesson, but of course each lesson and each student are different.  Teach your students to write their answers neatly and to take their time.  Tell them that you are not in a rush and that it is more important that they take their time and do a good job than it is for them to rush through their work.  Tell them it is not a race!  Too many students seem to have the feeling that they must do everything in a hurry, and when this is done, quality is lost as a result.

Online or not online, that is the question!

Some students may be apprehensive at first when learning online.  If you are such a student, or have such a student, remember that practice, as in everything in life, makes perfect.  Give yourself or your student the needed time to get adjusted.  Be patient with your student or with yourself when getting used to the online tools and the classroom atmosphere, just as you would do in the regular classroom situation.  Make the learning fun and the rest will follow.  Try to get to know one another.  Ask your students their interests and help them to feel comfortable in the classroom.  Talk to them like you would a normal person rather than yelling.  Being yourself and being real seems to go a long way in the classroom.  Think of things you would want someone to ask you if you were a student.  Ask about what state the student is from, the weather, hobbies and so forth.  Also feel free to share your likes and dislikes as well as yourself and your entire personality with your student.  When students can see you as a real person rather than just another voice on the other side of the computer, it goes a long way toward helping the students like and enjoy their online classroom experience.

When teaching online, since the students may not always or maybe never see you the teacher, try to use as many voice and visual prompts as possible. Realize these are your only tools with which to get ideas across. Use them to your advantage and for the benefit of the student.

Some online students may have laptops and may have difficulty typing when using them.  Be patient and helpful to your online student.  Also let them know that there is plenty of time and that they do not have to rush.   Ask your student how you can help.  That way you will also know what you can do in similar situations in the future. 

Always encourage your online student.  Some students may be apprehensive about their new online learning situation, and others may have some other issue in their lives which prevents them from being their best or from even wanting to communicate with you at times.  Consider this when working with students with behavioral issues or for students who display signs of apathy or depression.  Tell a little joke or story and get your students laughing.  Laughter is the best medicine.  Laugh at yourself and share the fun with your students.  Tell them when you make a mistake and that way they will see that you are human.  Incorporate this into the lesson.  Tell students that the best way we can learn things is through our mistakes.  Encourage them to take risks with their learning and to expand their horizons rather than to stay stagnant.  Promote learning and promote growth.

Help your students to learn to love to read.  Never use any aspect of learning as a punishment.  Tell your class or your student that you love to do these types of math problems or that you love reading books.  Share with them what book you are currently reading and model for them that you do read.  Tell them what you like about reading or writing.  Share your knowledge, but when explaining a new concept, let them know that you do not expect them to know or remember all that right away.  Also inform your students that proficiency takes time and much practice.  Tell them they will get there if they work at it.  Give them examples from your life that fit with the situations you are striving to present to your students.