Building a classroom community in which learners feel both comfortable and supported can be a weighty endeavor in any setting. Attempting to build this type of community in the online environment can be especially difficult. The lack of face-to-face contact can impede the process (Maddix, 2013), and communicating in an asynchronous environment can harm the development of a supportive and comfortable arena (Huang & Hsiao, 2012). The diverse student population present in many online…

I believe many people can reminisce about their educational experiences and remember at least one teacher who had a significant effect on them. One such teacher for me was my sixth-grade teacher Ms. Larson, and the thing I remember most about Ms. Larson was her checklist-orientation. Ms. Larson believed resolutely in the power of developing and using checklists; I was not a checklist-oriented person during my time in her class, but I was only 11 after all. Ms. Larson understood the checklist…

One of the more significant challenges online faculty encounter is engendering sustainable and in-depth threads within the discussion forum.  A critical element of effective online instruction is the ability of online faculty to create an environment in which meaningful interaction and dialogue can occur. Too often, unfortunately, responses in the discussion forum fail to reach the level of dialogue, and instead are comprised of "one-and-done" replies and "I agree" type responses. These types…

The information provided by feedback from both customers and managers can be useful in ascertaining current abilities, making changes when needed, and solidifying areas of strength. Feedback, when properly integrated, can help improve products, services, and productivity. As in many different milieus, the function of feedback is applicable, critical, and central toward improving learning and teaching in the online classroom setting. Instructors are central in this process by providing feedback…

Please see the link http://www.heri.ucla.edu/index.php to access the survey and report completed by the Higher Education Research Institution about the perceptions of incoming college freshman about economics, expectations, political views, et cetera.

Thanks,

Eric

The internet has revolutionized our ability, and our student's ability, to search for and access information. We now have an unbridled capacity to access information in a more effective and efficient manner than ever before. The ability to search for and access a diverse set of viewpoints has improved, as has the capacity to research about topics in an in-depth manner. The improvements in access and research abilities aside, issues remain about ensuring the information we, and our students…

The online classroom can be an intimidating environment for many students. This can be true whether a student is new to the online setting or learning to function in a new online setting. The student must contend with communication issues such as lack of face-to-face communication, the inability to comprehend fully the readings or prescribed material, shortcomings in writing abilities, and the assumptions of knowledge on the part of the instructor. There are also technical issues the student…

One of the best aspects about teaching in the online realm is the opportunity to engage with a diverse student population. The online modality has increased the ability for many individuals to communicate with people from other cultures. As technologies improve, cross-cultural communication will become more assessable, and the need to develop cross-cultural communication acumen will like gain primacy. Moreover, as online education continues to expand into new and emerging markets, the ability…

Understanding how high-quality syllabi are created can enhance instructoral practices in the classroom.  Utah State University has created an easy to use online application for creating syllabi.  The application is called Styled & Accessible Learning Service Agreements (SALSA).

For more information on this application, please go to http://salsa.usu.edu

Dr. Greenberger