Student Perspective

Our time to post to this blog has come to an end. For my final post, I would like to talk about the student perspective. These are things I have learned on my own, and some I have read about.

Do you find that after teaching a few years it is hard to see the student perspective? What I mean is looking at our assignments with “fresh eyes”. We know the subject and our students do not, or they have a partial understanding of the subject. I try to look at how the student sees this subject when viewing it for the first time. I know with my computer programs I have to constantly be aware of the first time user and what they see.

I ask myself questions from the new person perspective. I can tell you this is a challenge. I do some private tutoring and can see when a person’s eyes glaze over. I cannot see that in an online class.

Remembering at all times, that most of our students are seeing this for the first time, helps a lot. Many are also new to online classes, which makes it even harder. I have known people that were a whiz with one program but clueless where they saved their work. They did not know the basics.

As we move into our fall classes, let us all look with “fresh eyes” at our courses. Happy fall! Mary