Comments on: Online Learning Takes Special Skills http://elearningbrothers.com/online-learning-takes-special-skills/ eLearning games, challenges, flash templates, and development Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:30:54 +0000 hourly 1 By: Simon McIntyre http://elearningbrothers.com/online-learning-takes-special-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Simon McIntyre Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:31:49 +0000 http://elearningbrothers.com/?p=1804#comment-744 Good to see an article on elearning devoted to the learning experience. All too often the focus is on technology. Your thoughts are very much in line with ours at COFA Online (an academic unit at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia). We have been training academics and industry professionals in planning, writing and teaching online courses for years now, and one of the biggest mind shifts for teachers is to realise that online is a very real learning space (NOT virtual), and that interaction happens differently there. Once teachers understand how interaction occurs online, they can empathise with the students more and hence design tasks that are more engaging, collaborative and relevant to the student. I think one of the keys to successful online learning is creating a good sense of community amongst the students so they don't feel alone, and have a network of peer support and encouragement as well as feeling supported by the teacher. We are currently working on a project to help teachers understand these processes a little better called 'Learning to Teach Online'. You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/aR8HzE I think our work has a lot in common, and it would be great to hear from you to discuss ideas further if you want. Good to see an article on elearning devoted to the learning experience. All too often the focus is on technology. Your thoughts are very much in line with ours at COFA Online (an academic unit at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia). We have been training academics and industry professionals in planning, writing and teaching online courses for years now, and one of the biggest mind shifts for teachers is to realise that online is a very real learning space (NOT virtual), and that interaction happens differently there.

Once teachers understand how interaction occurs online, they can empathise with the students more and hence design tasks that are more engaging, collaborative and relevant to the student.

I think one of the keys to successful online learning is creating a good sense of community amongst the students so they don’t feel alone, and have a network of peer support and encouragement as well as feeling supported by the teacher.

We are currently working on a project to help teachers understand these processes a little better called ‘Learning to Teach Online’. You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/aR8HzE

I think our work has a lot in common, and it would be great to hear from you to discuss ideas further if you want.

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