What it means to create an online learning environment

Online education is well established and continues to make progress. Also, online classes have been popular, even among traditional universities, and there is still continued growth. While there is a focus on technology, the basics of adult education do not change. The question then becomes whether learning conditions can be created or enhanced through the use of technology. For someone new to this environment, you may also wonder if learning can take place. The fundamental process of learning and acquiring knowledge does not change, but conditions have, and this can improve or impair student development. Creating an online course and adding students does not guarantee that they will learn. This occurs through the conditions the instructor creates and the interactions she has with her students.

Technology-enabled environment

Over time, the use of technology in education has become mainstream, with phrases like hybrid classrooms and flipped classroom indicating how traditional education has evolved. It’s not just about using technology to create a course; it depends on how well students interact and use technology. The number of schools offering online classes and degree programs has created a large student base. This means that for-profit universities no longer have a significant market advantage. What educators find in a standard online classroom is a place for resources, a gradebook, a place for discussions, and other features like course announcements. The classroom interface has also evolved over time, and many LMS providers offer easier navigation tools and resources to create a better user experience.

Challenges for instructors

One of the first challenges concerns who is responsible for ensuring that learning occurs. For example, can a curriculum developer set up a course and create the necessary atmosphere? Of course, the answer is no because it requires a human element. Another challenge is that the instructor must be an active participant, from the first publication to the selected materials and their interactions with the students. If an instructor maintains an active presence, this helps set the stage for learning to occur. If the instructor is not active or does not take into account the conditions of the class, it will decrease the effectiveness of the students’ learning ability.

Even if conditions are optimal, students must also participate and be receptive to the learning process. Students must learn to use the tools and resources that have been made available to them. Also, instructors and students must learn to work together. Throughout my work as an online educator, one of the most common complaints I hear is that online class can feel mechanical in nature and new students who are not academically prepared can become overwhelmed and disengaged from the class. This poses another challenge for educators, as not all students are suited for this type of environment.

Creating optimal conditions

For an online class, technology creates the environment and technology tools will be added based on the course design. An instructor is assigned, students are added, and the class begins. What transforms this environment to make it productive? Instructors are provided with a checklist of facilitation duties, and meeting those requirements will ensure that the class runs according to plan. The test for instructors is in the details of the assigned duties. For example, in class discussions there is a specific amount of posting that is often required of the instructor and the purpose is to engage them in a dialogue with the students. These posts should stimulate students’ thought processes and curiosity, while connecting course concepts to real life. Also, feedback is not just a grade, although it is an indicator of the progress that is being made. The purpose of feedback is to engage students in the content, add remedial comments to address development needs, and provide a breakdown of points earned.

Involve students in the process

Classroom conditions involve what an instructor is actively doing. Engagement has to do with the content and effectiveness of interactions. For discussion question posts, consider how you address the student, invite the class to join the conversation, acknowledge and validate their perspective, add their experience, and then build meaningful dialogue. For the feedback provided, please provide feedback for both the content of what was written and the mechanics. This is a teachable moment and if you provide meaningful feedback, students will likely start reading it week after week.

For communication with students, consider whether you are considered accessible and responsive. This includes the tone you adopt, which can be short and sharp or warm, friendly, and helpful. Also, be sure to respond to students in a timely manner so that you can alleviate their concerns. Never tell a student to “see the syllabus” as it isn’t very helpful and you can figure that out from further communication. Teach students where to look for information and encourage them to increase their confidence and participation in the class.

Facilitation Strategies

An effective strategy for an online instructor is to develop an action plan and then do a weekly self-reflection and self-assessment. An educator always has room to grow and improve. For new instructors, it is helpful to develop a checklist of basic course requirements. An experienced instructor may divide assignments into specific days or time periods, as they know it takes time and effort to nurture a class full of students. The learning is not housed in an online classroom structure; lies in the required activities and the interactions between instructors and students. The basic rules of education apply: acquire information and knowledge, and then demonstrate what has been learned and progress made towards course outcomes.

What has made online classes a better option for many students is that they do more than memorize material for a test. There are authentic assignments like written projects and required class participation that promote learning. A course framework establishes a place for students to meet and the resources to be acquired; however, it is purposeful, effective, and meaningful teaching that creates the conditions for learning to occur. Students who are motivated to participate in the process and immerse themselves in the required discussions and activities will find that they can learn and grow, even with the use of technology.