Topics Map > Teaching Strategies > Online Teaching
Topics Map > Teaching Strategies > Course Management

Managing Online Courses: Strategies to Support Students

Imagine that you are the student, on your own, trying to make sense of what is in front of you on the screen.

Try to envision how your students are experiencing the class for the first time when everything is new, and they do not know where to start and what is most important.  Also, try to get to know your learners to understand how differences in their backgrounds and abilities, such as age, culture, motivation, online experience, and other characteristics, may influence learning. Knowing your learners is important to providing the help and support they may need to succeed.

Instructors set out to support their students throughout a course to the best of their ability. This need to support eLearners is even greater for online instructors, as the online environment significantly affects the learner experience, especially regarding interactions between instructors and students. Furthermore, each student’s learning background, skills, and motivations can either minimize or increase the impact of the online environment on their learning experience. Online instructors who recognize which student skills and motivations can help with the learning process will be better equipped to support their eLearners.

Why is it important?

The online environment's impact on eLearners is due to two main factors: the requirement of technology and the physical separation of instructor and students. The first factor means that students must be proficient with technology to access course materials and communicate with others. The second factor—the physical separation—means that students have increased autonomy over their learning process and, with that, increased responsibility and need for self-discipline. They might also have increased anxiety regarding the learning process. All of these elements require heightened attention to support online learners.

How to put it into practice?

Instructors face both challenges and opportunities when it comes to supporting eLearners. Although they must take into account the same technological and physical factors of the online environment that impact the learning experience for students, instructors have the opportunity to counteract those challenges for students through a variety of support structures and strategies:

In an online course, learner supports have three main goals:

  1. Acquaint students with the online learning experience.
  2. Address obstacles that interfere with learner success.
  3. Provide contact information or links to people or services that can help the learner.

Here are a few specific examples of support for learners:

  • student orientation
  • welcome letter
  • course organization and rhythm

|

 

 



Keywords:
online, teaching, managing courses, supporting students
Doc ID:
122466
Owned by:
Karen S. in Instructional Resources
Created:
2022-11-13
Updated:
2024-08-23
Sites:
Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring