Setting Up An Online Learning Experience

What is the significance of knowing the technology available to you?

Knowing the technology available to you is very important because it helps you to know what you will and will not be able to do. If the technology is not there to support certain activities you will know that you cannot use them. Technology tools make it possible to design almost any learning experience that you have designed for face-to-face (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010). It is important to make sure that you yourself as the teacher are comfortable with the technology you are using so that you can help the students.  You should be able to provide guidance in the use of the technology that you are asking the students to use.  It will also help you to know what the technology can do.  If you expect the students to use it for a particular purpose you should be sure that it will work for what you have in mind.

Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners?

Students need clear expectations in order to thrive in their classroom. In order to perform at or above the standards you must know what the standards are. According to a study by Walser (2011), students like clear expectations because they state what is needed and expected of them.  Once students know exactly what is expected they also know what they will be measured against.  They know what will give them an exceeds expectations versus a did not meet expectations.  This is why we create rubrics for courses so that the student can familiarize themselves with exactly what the teacher will use to measure their performance.

What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?

Instructors should take in to account their audience when setting up the online experience. Certain students work better with different set-ups. It's important to know your students. You would not set up the same class for a group of middle school students as you would for a group of Executive MBA students. "Learners bring their own personalized and customized knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the experience" (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).  It is important to know this.  For example you may not want to assume the students will understand certain references without knowing their backgrounds.

References:

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Walser, T. M. (2011). Using a Standard Rubric to Promote High Standards, Fairness, Student Motivation, and Assessment for Learning. Mountainrise, 6(3), 1-13.