One of the interesting things I have also noticed about the online learning environment is that students seem to express themselves more freely when they can work behind an email address. This produces much more interaction and more in-depth technical discussions than I normally see in a traditional classroom environment. One of the challenges that an online instructor faces is the ability to read between the lines. By that I mean, when you are communicating in a classroom, you can watch a student s body language to determine if they comprehend the material you are lecturing about. With online classes, you must read not only the student s post but try to interpret the real intent of the message as well.
Participation is important.
Although it s common for students in a classroom to not participate, it s even more critical that online students stay actively involved in the subject matter by posting questions as well as commenting on other student s posts. One of the most critical traits that an online instructors should possess is the ability to recognize that the meaning that one student applies to a message may not match their original intentions. You must be able to not only write clearly but also read clearly as well. When I am not preparing and teaching classes or troubleshooting a customer s network, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. My wife and I also love to travel and recently completed a trip to Italy.