Starting with Assumptions

I seem to clearly believe that F2F classes are more dynamic and students are more engaged even though from experience, my own as a student and as an instructor I know this to not really be the case . As much as I plan what I feel are engaging lessons some days for reasons I don’t always know the lessons fall flat, whether I have been teaching online or F2F. The reverse is true of online courses both synchronous and asynchronous that I have taken. The course descriptions describe engaging dynamic course work with multiple interactive opportunities that in truth don’t really materialize within the course. Sometimes the back channel discussions in synchronous classes become more of a distraction rather than a true engagement and in the asynchronous classes that I have taken and that I currently facilitate the engagement hasn’t been with all students but more of a 1:1 type of interaction which isn’t as engaging as group interaction. As a result of my experience in all these types of modalities I find myself seeking out more F2F opportunities because I am better able to see when a lesson isn’t resonating with the students and can immediately make adjustments. I don’t always find this to be the case online.