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Articles Tagged With professors

Ten Things You Need To Remember About Instructors Of Online College Courses

November 15th, 2010 by michaelm

When people sign up to take online courses, one of the major complaints is that they don’t feel as if they have a personal rapport with the instructor. That said, here are ten things to remember about instructors of online college courses.

1.) They May Not Know Who You Are
Since online instructors don’t see you in person, there is a chance that they won’t know who you are. Always remember not to take offense to this, as it is a product of the situation.

2.) They May Be Unresponsive
Online instructors get flooded with emails every day. If they don’t respond right away, remember it is because they are busy.

3.) They Are Approachable
Just because you’ve never met your online instructor doesn’t mean you can’t approach them with a question; online instructors are here to help.

4.) They Are Very Busy
Many people who teach online courses also teach courses at a physical location, which can add up to a very busy schedule indeed.

5.) They Are Experts in Their Field
Online instructors are just as knowledgeable as those who teach at physical locations, and should not be underestimated.

6.) They Rely on Their Own Processes
Always try to follow your instructors’ processes verbatim, as they are often too busy to try to learn someone else’s methods.

7.) They Are Real People
Don’t ever forget that your online instructors are real people with real personalities. Don’t be afraid to engage them in conversation or a joke.

8.) They Grade Fairly
Online classes are graded just as fairly and evenly as offline classes. Don’t expect an easy “A” out of an online instructor.

9.) They Are Open to Criticism
If you are unhappy with an online teacher for one reason or another, don’t hesitate to let them know why. Constructive criticism can go a long way, and is viewed in a positive light.

10.) They Like Interacting with Students
Most people who instruct online classes enjoy their job, and enjoy interacting with students. Don’t be afraid to strike up a debate or conversation with an online instructor.

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Ten Signs That You Have A Good Instructor In You Online College

November 14th, 2010 by michaelm

As a student, you realize that it is important to have a good instructor. Especially at a college level, a good instructor is imperative to the success of enrolled students. So how do you know if you have a good instructor? These ten signs can help you find out whether your instructor is good beginning with the first time you are in contact with the instructor.

1. Good instructors show that they are interested in seeing their students become knowledgeable and successful. They show that they care about the process of their students every step of the way.

2. Good instructors are interested in the material that they are teaching and demonstrate some level of excitement when discussing the subject being covered. With an online college, this is sometimes difficult but it is still possible to convey a love of material in emails and other online contacts.

3. Because students taking online college courses may never actually meet the instructor face to face, good instructors will go out of their way to make contact with the students enrolled in their course and to find out more information about each student and what it will take for them to do well in the class.

4. Good online courses are built using a solid syllabus. A good instructor will be well organized and have a plan for each step of the course.

5. Good instructors will supply students with a list of reading and other assignments at the beginning of the course term, because they recognize that distance students learn and work when they have time. Sometimes, this is daily and sometimes only a few times a week.

6. Good online college instructors realize that students taking online courses often have additional responsibilities in their lives including families, jobs, etc. that may have to take precedence at some points and are willing to be flexible to a point with deadlines and assignments.

7. Good instructors know their material. They are able to answer questions that as asked, even if those questions are beyond the immediate scope of the course.

8. Good instructors will often tell students where to go for additional information about a specific subject covered in class. This demonstrates both knowledge and love for the subject matter.

9. Good instructors will turn around submitted work in a timely manner.

10. Good instructors will have teaching experience or at least industry experience in their field. Someone who knows the importance of the material they are teaching is often the best teacher.

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Ten Signs Of A Good Instructor For Online Courses

November 11th, 2010 by michaelm

If you are considering taking online courses for the first time, then it is not unusual to have doubts about the quality of the instruction that you will receive from the instructor and staff. Here are ten signs that an instructor will provide you with the information you need to be successful in your online courses:

1. They contact you as soon as possible to welcome you to the class. Communication is critical with online courses and an instructor without excellent communication skills is not likely to lead a successful course.
2. They provide a syllabus, much like a face-to-face instructor would do in a traditional course. A syllabus is a map of what will be covered and the assignments and exams during the course. This is a must-have for online students.
3. They provide you with background information about their experience teaching and their education.
4. They make themselves available to assist you or offer the assistance of a teaching assistant dedicated to the course that you are taking. Online courses can be more stressful for students, who often feel that they are out there on their own completing work with little or no guidance.
5. They provide clear and concise information and assignments.
6. They grade coursework in a timely fashion, to enable you to study the work and make necessary corrections. As in a traditional course, this is very important to a student’s success.
7. They respond promptly to any communications.
8. They have the experience necessary and are qualified to teach college level courses.
9. They do not treat the online class as they would a traditional class, realizing that distance learners are not traditional students and often have other responsibilities in their lives.
10. They follow the syllabus as closely as possible so that all students are able to stay current with their work and assignments.

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Ten Tips On Getting a Quick Response to Your E-mail by the Instructor of Your Online Course

November 9th, 2010 by michaelm

Sometimes questions or concerns arise when you’re working on your online courses, and you need an answer right away. Here are ten tips on getting a quick response to your e-mail by the instructor of your online course.

1. Create a specific title that indicates that you need a quick response
Though you should be careful not to be demanding, a simple “Response Requested” or other greeting is sufficient to draw your instructor’s attention.

2. Always include the class number and title in the subject line of your email
You should always include the class number and title in the e-mail’s subject line, to prevent the e-mail from going to junk mail and so the instructor knows the message is from a student.

3. Introduce yourself and give a summary of what you’re working on
If you’re enrolled in a large online course, it’s helpful to introduce yourself briefly, and offer a summary of what you’re working on.

4. Explain your problem or question thoroughly
When you’re asking for help or assistance, be sure to make what you need clear to avoid confusion.

5. Ask direct questions in the e-mail, and summarize into a list
If you’re asking multiple questions in the e-mail, it may be helpful to include them in a list format at the end, so that it’s easy to answer.

6. Tell the instructor why you need a response
For those working on deadlines, simply mention to the instructor that you would appreciate a quick response.

7. Be polite
Always be polite and professional, avoiding demands or a detached voice, and keep the tone friendly.

8. Keep it brief
To get a quicker response, keep the message brief and scannable. The instructor will reply faster if it’s easy to discern what you need.

9. Offer multiple contact methods
If you need an especially quick response or have a complicated question, include your phone number or instant messenger screen-name that they may also use.

10. Thank your instructor in advance
Close the e-mail with a “thank you,” and let your instructor know how much you appreciate the help.

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What to Do When You Have Problems Submitting an Online Assignment and the Instructor Hasn’t Responded to Your E-mail

November 7th, 2010 by michaelm

It’s one of the greatest nightmares for anyone taking an online course - you stay up all night finishing a project before its deadline, only to have technological difficulties when it comes time to submit your work. Here are the five steps you should take when you have problems submitting an online assignment and the instructor hasn’t responded to your e-mail.

1. Look for alternate contact information
When you’re having difficulty submitting your assignment and your instructor hasn’t responded to your e-mail, you should take the next step and look for alternate contact information for the instructor. Check your syllabus, course web page, or even the school’s faculty directory, and look for a phone number or other e-mail address.

2. Ask your classmates
Contact some of your classmates, and find out if anyone else has had problems submitting the same assignment, or has had difficulty in the past. You can also see if any of your classmates know of another way of getting in touch with your instructor, or if there is some reason that he or she is detained and unable to reply to your e-mail.

3. Send a follow-up e-mail
If your instructor hasn’t responded to your first e-mail in a timely manner, consider sending a follow-up e-mail. Keep it friendly and polite, but ask firmly for a response or some action, and check to see whether or not the instructor received the first message.

4. Document all of your efforts to send the assignment and reach the instructor
If you’re not having any success getting in touch with the instructor, document your attempts to submit the assignment and any e-mails or calls you made to the instructor. This will help you in the case that your grade is later docked.

5. Submit the assignment through an alternate channel
When you’re not having any luck reaching your instructor and are still having problems sending the assignment, consider submitting it through a different channel. For example, post your work on a discussion board, so there is a record of it having been completed by a certain time and date.

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