Is it 101 or One-on-One? An Online Transformation Presented by Cathryn Smith Associate Professor of...

Is it 101 or

One-on-One?An Online

TransformationPresented by Cathryn Smith

Associate Professor of English

Monroe Community College

Rochester, NY

First began teaching online in 1997 after taking an online class – thrilled by it!

Enjoyed appearance of 24 hour instruction – class always “working”

Enjoyed flexibility of participation – anytime/anywhere

But Most of All –Enjoyed how teacher seemed there for me personally

An Online Transformation

It was like watching a movie!

Understanding of “others” in audience Illusion of playing just to us, as if for the first

time


What did I like about the class?

Enjoyed discussions – lively participationEnjoyed diversity in class Enjoyed “chatting” informally with others in different

part of the country

But what did I really want from the class?

The teacher’s undivided attention!


Coincided with crisis in traditional classroom

Increased class size Increased number of classes to teach Inability to be present individually for students Inability to respond personally to student work


It became clear! The online format –

Could provide MORE access to students than the traditional classroom –

Could give appearance of teaching one-on-one!

Particularly valuable for 101 classes!

Students typically immature Students typically need personal attention


Developed first online class in 1997

Spent approximately 100 hours developing the class

Spent approximately 20 hours per week “teaching” class

Spent numerous hours tweaking class


Result from students – overwhelmingly positive!

I love this class – the teacher spends so much time with me. Class is always going, like I just log in and something is waiting for me personally to do. That doesn’t happen in my Math class on campus.

In this class, I have an unlimited amount of time interacting with my professor


The Thrill of Victory!

Student responses were good. Students worked as well or better than traditional classroom!

The Agony of Defeat!Loss of emotional balanceNumerous trips to chiropractorMarriage counseling


Dilemma: How do I establish and maintain contact with students without exhausting myself in the process?


Solution: Use the tools of technology to help manage the load and create an atmosphere of assumed presence at all time!



In first online class – Spent approximately 10 minutes writing personal

welcome to each student

Now, in my 20th online class – Use a table to establish a “general greeting.” Use cut and paste, inserting individual names. Use a picture of myself– the teacher is IN!Use welcome video – personal connection

Welcoming Students to Class


Welcome Amy!

This is the place where we can chat in private about things pertaining only to you, things you wouldn't want to share with the class. For example, maybe you are having a difficulty at home that you would like me to know about as it affects your work in class. Or perhaps you have a question about a grade and would like to discuss further - that's what the private folder is all about.

Before you begin the class, please review your welcome video…

Thanks for joining us this semester. Best of luck Amy!


In first class – Ms. Smith – thanks for the warm greeting – I’ve never

had a professor welcome me to class before, or thank me for coming. I’m psyched to be here…

In 20th class– Professor Smith: I loved the video of you explaining the

class – made me feel as if you are really there, something I worry about. You spoke to me…

Response from students to greeting?


In first online class – Logged on seven days a week, working

everyday to show students I was “there”

In 20th online class – Log on five days a week –check in, not work

inUse tables and color to establish general

greetings for each day of the week to show presence

Use a picture of myself– share personal information

Teacher Attendance in Class


Tuesday: Today you have essays due…

Monday: Morning everyone…

Wednesday: Just want to remind you …

Thursday: Great job with discussions…

Friday: Another week of success…


Pictures Help Students Connect!

Friday: Just got back from a walk with my greyhounds…


In first class – I like that you are here everyday, even

though I’m not. I don’t’ get this personel (sic) attention from other teachers in person.

In 20th class– I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t

logging on every day. I’m so lost! Thanks for helping me.

Response from students to attendance?


In first online class – Spent hours grading, typing lots of

personal feedback

In 20th online class – Use a tables, color and clip art to make

general commentsAdd student’s name and line or two of

personal comment

Grading Online


Nice work Jonathan!

The purpose of the descriptive essay is to sharpen your observation skills by offering you the opportunity to truly notice the world immediately around you and examine the potential inherent in any given moment.

Your essay does an excellent job of…

Your essay does a good job of…

Your essay does a fine job of…

Your essay needs improvement…


Another idea for grading –

Use tables to highlight error areas to avoid repetition. Gives a great visual of how students are doing.

Grading Online


Hello Trisha!

Excellent level of understand 9-10 pts

Good level of understand: 7-8 pts

Fair level of understand: 6-7 pts

Poor level of understand: 5-6 pts

Title Title unifies poem

Title relates to the poem

Title somewhat relates to the poem

Title has no relation to poem

Imagery Startling, provocative, unusual

Interesting imagery taking some risks

Poem creates a faint picture using abstract details

No use of imagery

Logic Makes sense from beginning to end

Makes sense from beginning to end

Poem drifts in sequence, causing some

Poem makes no sense

Metaphor Surprising comparisons, fresh ideas

Good attempt at interesting comparisons

Vague metaphor, vague generalities

No attempt at using metaphor


Response from students to feedback?

In first class – No real mention about quantity or quality of feedback

In 20th class– Your rubric helped me see my progress – I like the

colors and the explanation of the essay. Makes me pay more attention.


Lecturing OnlineIn first online class –

Converted traditional lecture to text Required students to read pages of lecture

as substitute for “voice.”

Now, in my 20th online class – Use tables and clip-art - break up lengthy

lectures into small bites directed to the student!

Place table on the daily announcements, in private folders, in small groups.

Reinforces idea that teacher is “everywhere.”


You'll be writing about a slice of your life that has particular meaning and importance, using a slice of your life to talk about a larger idea. You might write about alcoholism, drug addiction, beauty, betrayal, death, etc.. Notice that I said a "slice;" you are not going to be writing your whole life story. Goodness, this class would be never-ending if we did that! But you'll choose a slice that illustrates or provides an example of a larger idea. So the narrative will do two things: tell your story and make some assertion on an abstract idea. Your story is a detail to support the assertion David!

Hi David! A couple more words about writing the narrative…


Response from students to lectures?

In first class – Don’t like all the reading – too much lecture. To be

honest – I skip around.

In 20th class– I like the easy way you give us information – not all

at once and not a lot at once. Way better than just reading.


How to Make Sure Students read Everything in class?

Creative a Scavenger Hunt – build questions into text

Award points for finding and answering

The student will be reading and all of a sudden you will see question #1 for 1 point by 1/26/03: In what state is Joshua Tree National Park the question built right into the text, like you just saw here.


Comparison: Tradition Classroom vs. Online

Prepared feedback, rubrics, seem less personal in traditional classes – create distance

Prepared feedback, rubrics, the use of color and pictures – seem more personal

Final Comment from Student

In this class I think I have gotten so much more out of it than any traditional class, just because of the fact that the teacher is more involved. In this on-line class I’ve gotten to know the real me.


Final Comment from the Professor


Whew!


To View Orientation Video:www.monroecc.edu/go/online

Scroll down page until you see

Web Version of “Success in the SLN Classroom.”

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Is it 101 or One-on-One? An Online Transformation Presented by Cathryn Smith Associate Professor of...

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