Online teaching: A day in the life
In e-learning, what does a teaching day look like? How do teachers follow and support their students online? Two e-teachers weigh in.
Do you have a set schedule?
Rebecca Lupton, e-learning instructor, Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Kingston: Online learning teachers have an assigned class period during which they work with students through the online learning platform. The time I spend online usually runs into lunch and my planning period as well - it takes three times as long to type a comment as to speak it! I probably spend two full hours.
Carolyn MacNeil-Verbakel, Specialized Co-operative Education, Thames Valley DSB: A lot of my students work during the day. So I'm on in the evening, doing chats with students and answering e-mails.
What are the main duties for e-learning teachers?
Lupton: On my screen is the course interface, and all the materials are accessible. There's a class list, an e-mail function, drop boxes where students upload work, and discussion forums where students post ideas and other students respond. Instructors spend time answering student questions by e-mail or in discussions, moderating and guiding discussions, planning timelines, moderating and writing course content, and giving feedback on student work.
How quickly can you respond to students?
Lupton: It's impossible to be online at the same time as every student, but we can usually give feedback within a short time frame. Students come to know their instructor's schedule and when they can expect an answer. If the teacher isn't online, students will often turn for help to one another. In this way online learning is a collaborative learning environment.
Do you ever meet your students?
MacNeil-Verbakel: I'm working with students who have struggled. My goal is to meet each one seven times per semester. We talk about their work and their goals for the future, and I try to make them feel connected to a plan.
Is it trickier to assess a student's comprehension online?
Lupton: Online instructors, like all teachers, keep notes on progress and monitor how the student has developed through each unit and the course. Assessments can be informal (reading and making comments on a discussion forum) or formal (using electronic documents to insert comments, next steps and a grade on a summative assignment).
Can students become invisible online compared to in a traditional classroom?
MacNeil-Verbakel: In the classroom, it can look like you're having a great discussion, but it's always the same five people with their hands up. The way that online courses are set up, there's lots of interaction, chats and group work. It's not like students can come in late and sit in the back of the class. It's difficult to hide in an online environment.
What are signs that a student is having trouble?
MacNeil-Verbakel: Every week my students do a reflective journal based on their work, a log and various assignments. There's structure in my course, so you quickly see who's falling behind. I can also see when they're logging in, where they are in the course and how much time they're spending.
Lupton: The first sign is usually difficulty signing into the course. Because of the independent nature of e-learning, students must have a sense of responsibility in order to self-regulate and get online. So a student who isn't logging in every day is a red flag. Trouble submitting formative work or participating in class discussions is another red flag.
How do you offer support?
Lupton: Quite often an online teacher will e-mail a student directly and make the expectations for success clear. If this doesn't work we quickly contact the student's home-school guidance counsellor or a parent. We can usually work as a team to resolve any problems students might be having with e-learning or find students a learning environment that better suits their needs. Because we have an orientation to e-learning that students must complete before they begin their course, we can often identify struggling students early and intervene before things spiral out of control.
MacNeil-Verbakel: I key into problems very quickly and contact the student by e-mail or phone on a weekly basis. That's the key to success - timely contact and feedback.
