Experience Summary
In general, teaching a course as a virtual class requires more preparation on behalf of the instructor than in a traditional course. While in the traditional case the course starts with the first day of class, in a virtual classroom the course needs to start at least two to three weeks before the beginning of the semester. The lead time is necessary in order to convey to the students all the course-related information, to clarify any misconceptions, and to answer any questions about the mechanics and contents of the course in a timely manner. This usually takes the form of an initial welcome letter I send by surface mail to all registered students and follow-up questions I receive by phone and/or e-mail.
Teaching Style
I love the Cooperative learning style which is one of the more successful and popular strategies. In this method, students are organized into teams, and each team has students of differing ability levels. Once they are organized in such a manner, the teacher uses various educational activities to teach a new concept or subject.By placing students of different abilities in a team, the classroom becomes very productive for all kinds of students. They all get this sense of achievement at having mastered the topic at hand and at having helped a classmate understand it, too. Students are motivated to learn more as their contribution in the class is valued and respected, and this can also lead to a boost in their self-confidence.