Welcome to Turtle Shells Online!

  In doing my coursework for the Turtle Project I have found different opinions of online learners and teachers.  It appears that most people like learning and teaching online.  Online instruction is a new idea, one that has not been around longer than the past decade.  It is an area that continues to grow.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of learning.  Online education works well for some people, while others prefer the offline learning situation. 

The progress of learning is slow and steady like a turtle.  The old familiar fable about the tortoise and the hare still holds true.  If we don't give up on our learning and if teachers keep believing in their students, they will win the race and obtain a wonderful education.  We do not need to hurry when we do our work.  Quality is more important that quantity.  How we work and the products we produce are more important than how much or the amounts displayed.  Learning is not a race, and taking our time will always provide us with better results.

Turtles and tortoises, their land-dwelling cousins, never stray far from home since they carry it around on their backs.  Turtles have though shells, just as do students who keep learning and never give up.  To do so we must be tough like the turtle shell.  As a result we can carrying our learning with us wherever we go, just as the turtle carries his home everywhere on his back.

Turtles are though and smart.  They carry their homes with them always.  Everybody loves a turtle!

I never thought about teaching online until I saw the ad for the position.  I applied and got the job.  I love teaching online and cannot imagine teaching any other way.  Online teaching is not for everybody, but it certainly is for me.  When you teach online there are many facets to consider.  You have to have a pretty good working computer with plenty of memory available.  You audio must work well.  It helps if you like to write or type so that you can communicate with you students in this manner.  Feeling comfortable with the computer and the Internet help a lot.  Teaching online has many similarities to offline instruction, along with its differences.  Students online seem to like and want a teacher who works with them one-on-one.  They also like it when their teachers are kind to them.  Many students I interviewed have expressed this.  They say that online learning is fun.  Online teaching is fun also.

Online teachers should always try to be positive with their students.  It is also important that they be very clear when giving out instructions so that students can easily understand.  This is especially important since online students are not always able to see their teachers.  They should check with their students often and never leave a student alone in the classroom for more than five minutes.

When I teach online I can have up to three students at one time.  This can get really busy, especially if students need a lot of help or one-on-one time.  Some students will need more help than others.  Other students will work more independently and maybe even want to work more by themselves.  Other students are very oral and want to read their story to you and talk their lessons through with you.  You can work with such students in this manner, but eventually strive to get these types of students to be more independent.  That is the goal.  Some students will have a loud tv on or music.  Ask them to turn that down or close the door.  Model these things for your student.  Also model politeness by saying things such as please and thank you.  Your students will soon pick up on these good habits.

Sometimes parents come online during a student session and talk to me.  They may have a concern about the student's level or about an audio or tech issue.  Let the parents know that you are trying to do the best for them and their child that you can.  What I do is contact technical support or the team leaders and have them help me with how best to serve the parent.

Online teaching is very rewarding and fun.  Your students depend on you and your knowledge.  Even though you may not see your students, the online environment is such that you do build a rapport with them.  Asking your students about themselves will help them to feel comfortable in the classroom and will go a long way to a successful online session.

For, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
~ Old Testament, The Song of Solomon ii. 11, 12.