Meeting Expectations

Let's face it, online technologies have been part of our traditional college age students' upbringing. The online space, for most of our students, is about socialization, the marketplace, a lifeline to media, as well as access to endless amounts of information. Digital technologies often enable students to experience life more quickly and facilitate the ability to multitask or fit more into their daily schedules than ever possible before the internet.

And along comes online classes. Students of all ages are more willing to take on an extra online class or two than they are traditional classes because they are so much more convenient. But what few students realize is the importance of counting the participation hours they'll be expected to commit to each online class before they enroll. Many students assume that they'll spend less time in an online class because there is no face-to-face meeting time required. It's your role to demystify this notion and ensure students are clear about what they're getting into.

Suggestion:

Share the average number of hours per week that students will be expected to commit to your class. You should include this in your syllabus and your Welcome Letter to students sent a few days before the semester starts.

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