There are several ways to increase student satisfaction in a distance education program. Art lessons can help develop a student’s critical thinking skills and promote tolerance and empathy. Art experiences expose students to different places, ideas, and viewpoints and help them learn to accept and respect differences. Learning how to appreciate different perspectives can lead to a better life overall. However, many students have trouble appreciating art.
Reflective practice
Teachers who practice reflective teaching are better equipped to create an environment where the learner is centered. They are more responsive to the needs of students and challenge their own practice. The results of their reflections are shared throughout the institution. This collaborative approach to teaching helps teachers improve their practice and fosters positive relationships. It also helps them develop a range of skills and confidence to teach. In addition, reflection encourages students to explore new challenges and improve their learning outcomes.
The research design was based on Kolb’s Learning Cycle (1984) which highlights the importance of reflecting on experience. The cycle follows four stages. First, the practitioner engages in a concrete experience. This experience should be active and be used to test new teaching methods and ideas. In the second stage, the practitioner must reflect on this experience and identify its strengths and weaknesses of the experience. Moreover, he must also identify what helped students learn.
After the spring break, educators can revisit the notes and reflect on what worked and what didn’t. These notes will serve as a resource for the next year. Similarly, they will also help encourage the use of flexible digital learning tools. These tools are particularly important because they make schools adapt to the remote environment quickly. While learning to move all subjects to a virtual classroom has its challenges, some educators have found creative ways to incorporate items students might have at home. Art and music classes often require a physical object to learn and teach, such as instruments and materials. Some educators have found solutions for these challenges by adapting projects and materials.
The previous chapter explored the benefits of reflective practice for online instructors. The authors included a few resources for educators to learn more about it. In 1999, Moon, J., and M. Spector wrote The Contributing Student and Reflective View. The authors also provided examples of practical strategies for reflective practice. The ACECQA video also highlights the links between reflective practice and the National Quality Standards. In conclusion, these resources help educators use reflective practice to support continuous improvement in their work.
Teacher presence
The quality of teaching in distance education courses depends on several factors, including the instructor’s physical presence, organizational skills, and facilitation of online discourse. As the instructor, you must also be present in your role as an instructional designer and provide effective direct instruction when necessary. Several research-based strategies are available to help you improve your teaching presence. Listed below are some suggestions:
Be present: The instructors’ social presence is not only a result of their physical presence but also of their emotional projection. By being present, the instructor is more personable and human. In addition, this presentation helps the student’s personal learning outcomes. The instructor must be present and aware of the students’ needs, wants, and concerns so that they can provide appropriate support and guidance. Ultimately, the instructor’s presence is the best way to engage the student’s emotional intelligence and ensure that he or she learns the information.
The absence of an instructor can make distance learners feel isolated and disconnected. Building an online community is one way to overcome this problem. A higher faculty presence can improve online course student satisfaction and retention rates. Further, it can improve the quality of instruction. The benefits of instructor presence in distance education are well worth the effort. It may be a matter of balancing the time spent on each component. For optimum learning, however, the online learning environment must be conducive to instructor presence.
Online teachers should be aware of the effects of virtual presence on student learning. Instructors must also consider how students use the technology using video conferencing software. Using video conferencing in distance education has proven to be an effective way to create a sense of community. In addition, video chat software has proven to be effective in reducing a student’s isolation and improving his or her sense of community. By using video conferencing, the instructor can also provide feedback via asynchronous audio.
In addition to establishing a physical presence, the teacher must ensure cognitive presence. Cognitive presence involves sustained communication between learners and faculty. Students must engage in activities that build students meanings on a cognitive and affective level. Achieving these outcomes requires knowledge, reflection, and discussion. Using video conferencing software like Zoom will facilitate student interaction and foster a sense of community. If the instructors are able to maintain a high level of cognitive presence, their students will respond positively to their learning.
Flexibility
The term ‘flexibility’ can refer to the ease of study, access, and flexibility. Distance education means a wider range of learning resources, more autonomy over when and where you learn, and more options in the way you teach. These aspects are crucial because they facilitate greater engagement and participation in courses. And a degree earned through flexible learning offers a variety of benefits. Here are just a few of these benefits:
One of the main advantages of distance learning is that it is able to meet the needs of diverse learners, both globally and locally. Not every student can access all forms of technology, and institutions must be mindful of these needs. For example, distance learners may be homeschooled or working in an alternative learning environment. They may need flexible schedules and prefer to receive instruction in their own time. Distance educators must understand and master the fundamental concepts of effective distance learning and utilize various technologies.
Another benefit of flexibility is that the same art projects can be continued even if students are enrolled in an online course. WAB teachers brainstormed ways to make the transition from the classroom to the online environment. They welcomed flexibility and personal approaches to art. Middle school students had to change their paper-mache projects, and a study of Frida Kahlo had to be modified to accommodate the distance learning environment. The flexibility of art in distance education is essential, and WAB teachers are embracing that approach.
Another advantage of flexible learning is the ability to schedule the courses at a time that works for you. Many older students have other priorities and often cannot commit to full-time study. They also need deadlines and a fixed end date to keep them on track. In addition, older students can break the courses up into shorter ones and take breaks between them. This means that they can complete their studies and still make time for other aspects of their lives.
Critical thinking
Students can learn about art and critical thinking as they pursue distance education in the field. Students in art classes are introduced to critical content and reasoning through different techniques. This type of study allows students to make their own observations and project them in the best way they know how. This approach promotes values such as empathy, discipline, and tolerance. Art is also an important tool for reflection, an essential element of critical thinking. Therefore, combining these two elements is a great way to teach your students art appreciation and critical thinking skills.
It is important to develop critical thinking in students in all aspects of their lives, not only in academics. It is an important skill in today’s world. Students learn how to analyze the world around them more deeply by studying art. Developing this skill helps students think more critically. Art is a great way to strengthen critical thinking skills and enhance creativity. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate it into a student’s distance education.
The most obvious place to embed critical thinking is in the student learning outcomes. A well-designed course will align all activities and assessments with core learning outcomes. Learning outcomes should contain an object and an action. They may start with the will of the student. Using Bloom’s taxonomy can help educators choose appropriate verbs for their course content. In fact, a good course should have critical thinking as a core component.
To improve critical thinking in gifted students, it is essential to enhance their ability to apply metacognitive skills throughout their educational careers. Artful thinking is crucial for future success as future experts. Many educators value skillful critical thinking, while others restrict student decision-making or limit it all together. However, art classes are often a vital location for critical thinking. Art teachers can foster a continuous cycle of reflection and reasoning that leads to successful artistic decision-making.
A critical thinking course should combine activities that encourage creativity and innovation. Students should engage in both creative and critical thinking activities. These activities should engage learners in different ways of thinking and be challenging for them. They should also foster open-mindedness. Students will develop skills and attitudes to foster critical thinking and art by engaging in such activities. The purpose of a course should be to develop a positive mindset in students, and critical thinking should be part of the learning process.
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