Teaching and Learning Using Internet On-line Courses - Return to Main Menu

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Instructor to Student Communications

An Internet On-line course provides access to hyperlinked or networked learning of course materials, which may be interactive, simulations, multimedia, homework, and quizzes. Information is available when students want it and they have personal control of the information with easy access. The Internet access enables them to use time more effectively, and at their own pace, to learn the subject matter.

In addition, such a course provides access to people via the Internet i.e. subject matter experts (faculty, TA, business, or government); and other students for peer interactions. On-line courses promote greater student communication with their instructors and with other students. In addition, the overall quality of these interactions is increased because there is more time for thought and reflection to make an appropriate response.

Instructor to student communication requires an "up-front" understanding of the course requirements, a detailed course syllabus, grading, and a realistic estimate of the time involved. Office hours should be posted when phone communication is ensured. In addition, a main feature of an on-line course is the establishment of instructor to class communications such as a Web Discussion Board (more on this later). The instructor needs to promote and facilitate student to student communication such as posting autobiographies, enable private communication, the use of email, or the Web Discussion Board.

Good teaching practice communicates high expectations which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. An effective assessment system to monitor progress and provide prompt feedback may include a mixture of self assessments, graded assignments, open book tests, automatic on-line computer marked tests, and on premise proctored tests.

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