Tag: online learning

Remote learning is the wave of the future for institutions of higher education, and improvements in technology have only increased the frequency of virtual learning in recent years. Students are also interested in utilizing online learning, especially if they are non-traditional students or working professionals returning to school. An institution that cannot utilize remote education in its curriculum is one that will struggle to drive results for its students.

However, many higher education institutions still struggle to use online education, even as more courses move to digital delivery formats only. The result is that an increasing number of students are enrolled in courses with overworked, unprepared, and unfulfilled faculty members, and there seems to be no sign of this stopping soon. Poorly designed, planned, and executed online courses will only lead to burnout and dissatisfaction among top faculty members. 

The team at Instructional Connections has seen all sorts of remote education challenges over the years. Our Academic Coaches have worked within a number of online courses, and that familiarity gives us unique insight into the most common problems within online education. Read on to learn about the common mistakes institutions make with virtual learning and how to rectify these problems. 

Too Little Faculty Bandwidth 

Saying that leading a course of 100 students is difficult is putting it mildly. Even the most seasoned instructors can struggle to keep up with the demands of teaching this many students. It’s completely understandable that bandwidth can become a precious resource for many instructors when faced with courses of 100 or more students.  Faculty work life balance can also suffer when teaching online programs, as many students in these courses work fulltime and will often send emails and reach out for support on weekends or after hours. This tends to lead to severe faculty member burnout. 

It’s incredibly easy for instructors to find their bandwidth drained by the urgent but tedious duties of instruction. Administrative duties, answering emails, grading, and a thousand other operational tasks are a part of teaching, but these duties can pull seasoned instructors away from their more important strategic goals. The more bandwidth the instructor has, the more they can focus on staying up-to-date in their field, bettering student outcomes, and more strategic focuses. Plan accordingly if your institution offers online courses. 

Another issue to be aware of with online courses, especially with larger enrollments, is that faculty may begin to design the course to maximize their already scarce time. This is a natural response to bandwidth, but the result is usually a drop in the quality of assignments and an increase in busy work that might not help students increase their mastery of the subject. It’s a crucial problem within online learning to be wary of; low faculty bandwidth actively threatens the quality of the course and student learning. The more mundane tasks that can be removed from your instructors, the more efficient and impactful they will be, and student outcomes will be better for it. 

Unclear Communication Channels

Small, in-person courses offer students opportunities to contact their instructors frequently. In this format, less-than-optimal communication channels don’t tend to make or break a course. If a student has a question, they can ask in class or after class, after all. This works fine for smaller class sizes. 

However, in an online course, an instructor could receive emails from 50-100 students at any given time. When time is scarce, and the student-to-instructor ratio is high, inefficient communication is not an option. Instructors need to figure out how to communicate efficiently and effectively with their students in order to be impactful online educators. 

Delayed Feedback & Grading

Students expect to know where they stand when they take a course. Most have become accustomed to knowing all pertinent information about their position in the course, whether good or bad. Delays in feedback and grading put this in jeopardy. Unsurprisingly, problems grading accurately and quickly are a huge source of frustration for most online, non-traditional students. Failure to receive a grade quickly can leave the student discouraged. If too much time passes, a new assignment or test could be assigned, and the student’s errors might be repeated. 

Prompt grading and feedback allow students to seek assistance, whether through the university or from the faculty member, and adjust accordingly.  Failure to provide prompt feedback can leave students feeling surprised by their marks and lower their satisfaction with the online course. Institutions of higher education need to give faculty members the resources necessary to offer quick grading for students. 

Failure to Properly Scale the Course

Not all college courses are the same. This seems intuitive, but far too many instructors and institutions treat all courses similarly regarding structure and mode of delivery. This can often be a holdover from past courses. If an instructor is accustomed to teaching a certain way,  it can be easy for them to default to what has worked in the past. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but modern online education often demands different approaches. 

A well-designed and planned course can still begin to falter if the existing processes are not adjusted. A large class might need additional support if the course enrollment grows too quickly. That’s a good problem to have! However, it is something that institutions of higher education should be aware of. The existing protocols and procedures for current courses might not scale forever, and institutions need to be flexible in order to deal with growing course enrollments. 

Partner with Instructional Connections

Are you an institution of higher education looking to support your faculty members? Contact Instructional Connections to learn more about whether an Academic Coach is right for your course!
Our Academic Coaches offer high-quality support services to colleges and universities teaching online courses!  Our Academic Coaches…

• Can Reduce Instructional Delivery Cost by 20-30%
• Serve More than 50,000 students at 50 Universities and 75+ Programs.
• Are Available in a Variety of Disciplines
• Give Instructors Time Back to Focus on Student Outcomes

Learn more about our Online Teaching Assistants and Academic Coaches today!

By 2027, the number of online learning users is expected to reach 57 million. As schools transition to online education, educators must understand the type of students they will encounter. Unlike traditional classrooms, virtual classrooms are filled with learners from various backgrounds with different life experiences, academic levels, and technological abilities. 

If you are a virtual teaching assistant, you must answer questions, provide feedback, and offer guidance on coursework. Your personalized approach can help students feel more connected to the course and motivated to succeed.

Let’s explore some key considerations that virtual teaching assistants and faculty should consider when dealing with online students.

Characteristics of Online Students

Self-Motivated and Disciplined

They are committed to their academic goals and can stay focused on their studies without external supervision. They also take responsibility for their own learning and proactively seek help when needed.

Strong Time Management Skills

Online students need to be able to manage their time effectively, as they often juggle multiple responsibilities. They need to be able to prioritize their studies, meet deadlines, and allocate time for other personal and professional commitments. Successful online students can create and stick to a schedule that works for them.

Tech Savvy

Students can easily navigate online learning platforms, use various digital tools and resources, and communicate effectively through digital channels such as email, video conferencing, and discussion forums.

Challenges Faced by Students in Online Learning

Technical Difficulties

Students may face issues such as slow internet connectivity, computer problems, and software glitches. Technical difficulties can disrupt their studies and cause them to fall behind on coursework.

Tight Schedule

Online students often manage multiple responsibilities such as work, family, and social commitments. Poor time management can lead to missed deadlines, incomplete assignments, and poor grades.

Feelings of Isolation

Online students may feel isolated and disconnected from their peers and instructors. They may miss the social interaction and support that comes with traditional classroom learning.

Balancing Personal and Academic Responsibilities

Students may feel overwhelmed by the demands of their coursework and personal lives.

Strategies for Engaging Your Online Class

Set Clear Expectations and Instructions 

Online students need clear expectations to stay on track and avoid confusion. As an instructor, you can provide clear instructions and expectations for assignments, quizzes, and exams. 

Use Interactive Technology Tools 

Consider using interactive videos, virtual whiteboards, and online quizzes to keep students engaged and motivated.

Encourage Collaboration and Discussion

Take advantage of online discussion forums or group projects so they can stay engaged and motivated throughout the course.

Improve Online Education With Instructional Connections

Virtual teaching assistants and faculty must foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment to create a successful learning experience for all students. At Instructional Connections, we serve more than 50,000 students at over 50 universities, adapting to various types of educators and online students. 

Our 14 years of industry experience have enabled us to create a diverse approach for various students who chose online education over in-person classes. To learn more about our diversified approach and virtual assistant teaching model, send us a message or call us at 888-221-2418.

Distance learning is not a new concept. However, as it has become an increasingly popular teaching method over the years, many issues in the virtual classroom have come to light. Adapting to a new teaching method can significantly impact the way in which students learn, and given that many students are still opting to take remote classes, it’s important that we continue to address the issues that impede student development. 

In this article, we examine some obstacles that make online learning difficult and offer solutions to solve them faster.

Online Learning Issues and Possible Solutions

Professors and their virtual teaching assistants can help students smoothly transition from in-person to virtual courses if they consider the following challenges.

Distractions

Since students are not in an actual classroom, distractions are unavoidable. Additionally, students don’t typically have the same level of privacy they had at university because they often share the house with the rest of their family, so concentrating can become difficult.

The best solution to this problem is to create a schedule with family members. Students should let their families know when they need a quiet study room to follow the class lecture in peace.   

Low Motivation

People are generally very active and sociable and need communication with colleagues to remain productive. Therefore, isolation in a virtual classroom affects motivation, which may result in procrastination.

To overcome this issue, the best solution is for professors or virtual teaching assistants to continue creating schedules or to-do lists that encourage students to keep going and not abandon the work. Also, it is necessary to carve out time for students to keep in touch with their colleagues. Hosting workshops or study meetings is a great way to encourage students to collaborate on their homework.

Technical Problems

When online learning began increasing in popularity, connecting to Zoom or Google Meetings proved challenging, as these platforms were underdeveloped for such a massive shift. Students and professors faced various technical issues and problems that often prolonged class time.

Besides always looking for trustworthy platforms and ensuring students have a reliable internet connection, there isn’t much that can be done regarding technical issues. However, when these issues arise, it’s important for students to contact their professors immediately to ensure they can follow the lecture as seamlessly as possible. 

Poor Interaction = Boredom

Upon transitioning from an actual classroom to a virtual one, students often report feeling bored or less interested in the subject due to decreased interaction with professors and peers. Additionally, students are typically required to complete their assignments independently instead of collaboratively in a virtual environment, further contributing to poor peer interaction.

Although professors always remain available for their students, the motivation for students to keep up with deadlines slowly decreases over time, and the syllabus becomes difficult to follow. One solution to this problem is for students to initiate open discussions with their peers to share ideas and offer constructive feedback on assignments. 

Teaching Assistants Help Overcome Remote Learning Obstacles

Teaching assistants have slowly become integral to any classroom, especially virtual ones. At Instructional Connections, we have helped over 50,000 students in more than 50 universities meet their learning goals online and gain the knowledge to develop their studies further.

To learn more about what our team can do for you, feel free to reach out to us – we’re always happy to help!

Engaging students is hard enough in the physical classroom, but the tactics you use in person might work just as well online. And surprisingly, incorporating tried and tested working methods to engage students in learning isn’t as hard as it seems.

Like online courses, blended teaching, or what we now call hybrid learning, isn’t anything new — most importantly, it isn’t going away. In fact, all signs point to it being the future of learning. But for it to be as effective as in-person courses, it’s essential to ensure your students are soaking in the material.

Keep reading to learn Instructional Connections’ top tips for keeping students engaged in your university’s courses and how a virtual teaching assistant can help!

Help Students Create a Routine

To engage students from the get-go, give them some ideas to set a routine for their asynchronous work time. One example of this would be adding a post to the discussion board before starting their work for the class. This can be as simple as discussing what they did the previous weekend or what they’re looking forward to learning on the syllabus.

These simple routines at the beginning of each class can help students make natural connections with one another (and their professor) and open up — especially in an asynchronous setting.

If you have a virtual teaching assistant in your classroom, this is a perfect opportunity to help them get involved and connected to your students. If students feel comfortable with your virtual TA, they will also feel comfortable approaching a professor.

Use Interactive Content & Materials

This should probably go without saying, but it’s imperative to show students more than just a lecture packed with facts and instructions — all students learn differently. Professors should consider preparing or finding materials on certain topics that are easy to digest or designed to be more engaging. This will help lessons be more interactive and will naturally encourage student participation.

• Try using videos or varied media in your online or hybrid course — they’ve proven valuable and engaging in education.

• For both synchronous and asynchronous online learning, you can use a digital whiteboard to present information and solve problems with your students, show pictures and charts, and play clips, podcasts, and YouTube videos.

• The internet is your friend! With the rise of virtual learning and a surplus of online materials, you can find interactive videos, quizzes, and other assets that supplement your lesson material. 

Incorporating a virtual teaching assistant into the classroom can help open up time for professors. Some professors may have their virtual TAs facilitate asynchronous discussions and other tasks.

Utilize Class Forums or Discussion Boards

Some students are more comfortable typing out their thoughts than sharing them in a recorded video format in class.

An online discussion space is an excellent opportunity for everyone to participate, give their opinion, become familiar with other students’ views, and learn proper etiquette for professional discussions. This learning activity also allows students to think about the question and form their thoughts and opinions at their own pace. Sometimes, the pressure of immediately answering a question in class or the anxiety of recording a video response causes students to freeze and have trouble giving their highest quality answers.

Virtual TAs have many roles in the classroom, but the program or professor’s needs always determine these roles. While some professors may have their Virtual TA monitor and respond to student questions and forum responses, some may want to do this independently to connect with their students. 

Virtual Teaching Assistants for Every University

At Instructional Connections, we make life easier for your professors. By providing support only where it’s needed, our virtual TAs allow your faculty members of record to focus on class engagement, course delivery, and student outcomes.

Learn more about our virtual teaching assistants and see how they can work for your university program.