Outages

Right now, we are experiencing an Internet outage at PPCC.  (I'm piggy-backing on the student wireless network.)  So, while I'm on my laptop at work dealing with a slow connection, it came to mind, how do we deal with outages in our classes?

The unique thing about CCCOnline is the probability of everybody being down is very low.  Then again, it seems we always hear the line 30 minutes before and assignment or exam is due, "My Internet was down."  So, how do you balance this?

Personally, I'll give a student 48 hours for any reason.  They just have to contact me in advance of the due date.  What do you do?

Angry?

This weekend brought up an interesting situation.  After dealing with my twin 6 year olds and their weekly room cleaning, it was time for me to sit down and read some discussion posts in my classes.  Sounds harmless right?  Well, maybe you haven't had the experience of trying to get twin girls to pick up their toys, hair things, clothes, etc. and put them away.  (No, "away" does not mean put your clean clothes, hair ribbons and toys in the clothes hamper because it's the closest place to hide them!)

So, I finally got the room sorted out and was ready to read all of my students' insights.  However, after the third post of reading misspellings, bad grammar and strange comments, I couldn't take it.  Trust me when I say three posts shouldn't get me this upset.  I'm not even grading this discussion on grammar and spelling.  That's when it dawned on me, I was still angry from cleaning the room.  So, I walked away from the computer and did something else for awhile.

When I came back, the posts I came back to weren't as bad as I thought and was able to give some feedback and guidance which moved the conversation forward.  The experience was much nicer and I'm sure my responses to the students were much better received.

How do you know when it's not a good time to check your classes?  Do you have a fall-back time to do your classwork so you aren't forced to do it angry?

From the Facebook Feed...

 I don't know why this one got under my skin this weekend, but this reply showed up in a Facebook thread when discussing online education.  What would your reply have been?

 

Online classes can't duplicate the intimate one-on-one communication one gets in the classroom. They also can't duplicate group interaction. I've taken online classes, and I didn't learn as much as I did in the classroom.

Student/Teacher Boundaries

The Internet world has become much more social with the advent of Facebook, Twitter and now Google Buzz.  It seems most every day there's a new way to connect with other people.  While this is technology is great at connecting people, it can often connect people in ways they may not have foreseen.  Let me ask you some questions:

• Do you give students a personal email address in case D2L fails?
• Do you give students a home or cell phone number?
• Do you "friend" current students in Facebook/MySpace?  What about former students?
• Do you ask students to interact with you in public spaces, such as open forums?
• Would you be willing to purchase something from a student in your class through eBay, Craigslist, etc.?
• Do you play games online with your students?  What about former students?

While our administrators may have more details of what to do and what not to do, I'm of the opinion if it could look bad, even if it's not, don't do it.  Let me give you an example.

A few years back, a student and I figured out each other liked to play a specific video game.  He sent me an invite to play online against each other.  While I didn't see a problem, I could see others in the class thinking he was getting preferential treatment because of our gaming.  So, I told him if he was still interested, contact me about a month after class ended (through my college email) and I would consider it.  (We met online and played twice before each of us moved on to other games.)

I have no problem meeting up with former students in a social environment.  I think if we work for 15 weeks to try to build relationships with our students, we are dishonest if we ignore them afterward.  However, I make sure the commitments to the instructor/student relationship are completed before taking the step into social activities.  When in doubt, I ask my wife.  She's an outsider who helps give me some very solid advice.

Where are your boundaries?  Do you have an adviser to help you when you're not sure?

Spring Break Issues

I know many of us are fully aware of the Spring Break issues.  However, if you are new at CCCOnline, here's some things to remember.  First, CCCOnline does not take any time off for Spring Break.  While it might be nice to take a week off and sit in the sun, we just don't do it.  (If you know why CCCOnline doesn't take Spring Break, I'd be curious to know.)

Secondly, at least one of your students doesn't know CCCOnline isn't taking Spring Break.  So, how do you prevent this issue?  You could give a week where nothing is due and put twice as much work the following week.  Then again, to me, that's just another name for taking Spring Break.  I would go back to making sure you are mentioning it in your News items and maybe even in your Discussion area.

Lastly, even if CCCOnline isn't taking time off, students (and instructors) will still be traveling.  Any time you are traveling, make sure your students know when you are going to be away from the class, so they aren't waiting for replies.  Also, make sure to communicate what the expectations are for students who are away for several days.  Personally, I make sure the Spring Break time is pretty light, but there are still items due each week.

How do you handle Spring Break?

An Olympic Fall

A couple of weeks ago, I tried to get some more movement from this blog.  I was the only one in the CCCO community without any posts and was trying to get some more interaction.  What I tried doing was giving the people who were reading here a purpose to post in the community.  In this case, with only a few exceptions, it didn't really take off.

However, sometimes it's the side effect which are the most effective.  For example, I learned from Lisa that many folks are reading the blog, not from the community, but from RSS readers.  (I as well use Google Reader for most of my blog reading.) This makes it very difficult to post as it requires going to a separate site.  This makes me think about whether I should be using outside websites as much as I do in my classes.  Also, I didn't give much in the terms of motivation.  Maybe I should have found a carrot to offer too.

So, while my Olympic idea didn't go viral, it wasn't a failure, but more of a fall.  Besides, while it didn't happen in the Olympics, it gives me a chance to show this video. :-)

The Blahs

When I first started teaching for CCCOnline, it always looked like the other folks were always gung-ho and going 100 miles an hour for the full semester.  However, after the first semester or two I discovered I always had a lull of energy between 1/3 and half way through the semester.  I've since learned in private conversations, I'm not alone here. 

Last weekend, my blahs kicked in.  I know all of my students and the "newness" of the semester is over. The end is way too far away to even think about.  I don't want to grade my students' assignments or read their discussion posts even though there's nothing different about them this week.

So what do you do when the blahs hit?  Here's a list of items I've done:

• Mix up the discussions.  See if you can get  something different from your students.
• Take a day or two off.  (Just be sure to communicate your plans to your students.)
• Work in a different physical environment.  Take a laptop to a coffee shop you don't usually go to.  Try listening to different music while you work.
• Find a content appropriate funny YouTube video and post it in the News.

Falling Isn't Failing

As a Colorado native, one of the things you have to do as a kid is learn to ski.  The first few times were spent on beginner slopes snowplowing and falling.  However, as I progressed I was starting to find myself on tougher and tougher slopes, but I was still falling.  So, I did what any kid would do, ask my friends who were better skiers.  One said something that still sticks with me, "If you aren't falling, you aren't getting better."

As I've gotten older I've really come to appreciate that wisdom.  You see, sometimes those of us who have been teaching awhile have a tendency to sit back and cruise.  We don't like to fall down.  It hurts and we still have our scars when we were starting so we take fewer chances.  The problem is if we do this, we "aren't getting any better."

So, if you are feeling like you are cruising, start taking some more chances.  Yes, you may fall.  (I did with my Olympic experiment despite Karen's best efforts, but more on that next week.)  On the other hand you will learn what works and what doesn't while expanding your horizons.  More importantly, you will be passing a message to your students about trying new things.

Is Midnight the Beginning or the End?

This is a little point, but one which has burned many of us, myself included.  You have an assignment you want due on Sunday at midnight.  So, you write a News item telling your students the item is due at midnight Sunday and you set the Dropbox Folder with the restrictions of Sunday at 12:00 AM.  Of course, this is also included in your schedule.

Sounds good right?  Well, that depends on how you think of midnight.  You've set the assignment to close between Saturday night/Sunday morning.  While this might be exactly what you want, a group of your students will be confused and think it's the midnight between Sunday and Monday.  This is almost guaranteed.

To avoid this confusion, give the due date at 11:59pm.  I know it sounds trivial, but this one minute can make a big difference.  Besides, '11:59pm' only has 7 keystrokes and 'midnight' has 8.  :-)