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| Instructor
visibility is a determinant factor in the success of online
discussions. Therefore, every online instructor needs to be
aware of different ways to increase their visibility in online
courses activities. The following are different types of messages
that online instructors can send to increase their visibility. |
- Content-related messages (i.e.
handouts, discussion questions, notes).
- Rules and Guidelines (i.e. grading
procedures)
- Technical tips (Internet addresses,
information about how to send an image as an attachment,
information of how to paste text or image).
- Responses (answers to students
questions, feedback, anecdotal insights).
- Announcements (projects and assignments
due dates, information about guest speakers).
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The instructor
is visible when modeling a high level of participation, which
in turn encourages the students to enhance their own participation.
The instructor who shows low visibility in online discussion
normally gives students an excuse to reduce their participation
as well, or to not participate at all. Students will assume
that their instructor will not grade them down because he/she
is behaving similarly.
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Instructor visibility in online discussion
is also crucial to minimizing the sense of isolation that
distant students often encounter. Students feel connected
and as if they are working in a collaborative environment
with other students and with their instructor when they find
a number of new messages in the forum. Instructor visibility
provides distant students with a sense of belonging to a body
that supplements the traditional classroom. If for any reason
the instructor has to be absent he/she should notify the student
as soon as possible and look for other ways of communication
since the online discussion can continue beyond class meeting
time. (See Figure F1 for an example).
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Encourage students to
reflect on issues under discussion and share their experience. |
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