Thanks to all who have posted their opinions. I truly appreciate Rodney for jumping in with a different opinion. There's still time for more discussion.
The purpose of office hours is to be able to meet with students at their convenience. Our online students take the classes because they are convenient for their schedule. They take exams, do homework, respond to discussions during the evenings, on weekends, after the "children are in bed".
I have found after teaching on-line courses for at least five years, the best time to be available for students is usually on-line late at night from around 8 to 11 or on Saturday.
Requiring faculty to schedule office hours for on-line courses on campus during traditional times is useless for meeting the needs of on-line students.
I agree that being able to hold office hours at student convenience is ideal. I think this should apply when possible for those who teach in the classroom as well as online. I find as a full-time classroom professor that the best time and place to be available for these students (i.e. when and where they actually contact me for help) is ALSO online in the evenings! Other than perhaps during a half hour immediately after classes, my students always ask for assistance through email online late at night. So I think the ability to schedule some online office hours at off-hours should be equally available for those teaching in the classroom.
2 comments:
The purpose of office hours is to be able to meet with students at their convenience. Our online students take the classes because they are convenient for their schedule. They take exams, do homework, respond to discussions during the evenings, on weekends, after the "children are in bed".
I have found after teaching on-line courses for at least five years, the best time to be available for students is usually on-line late at night from around 8 to 11 or on Saturday.
Requiring faculty to schedule office hours for on-line courses on campus during traditional times is useless for meeting the needs of on-line students.
I agree that being able to hold office hours at student convenience is ideal. I think this should apply when possible for those who teach in the classroom as well as online. I find as a full-time classroom professor that the best time and place to be available for these students (i.e. when and where they actually contact me for help) is ALSO online in the evenings! Other than perhaps during a half hour immediately after classes, my students always ask for assistance through email online late at night. So I think the ability to schedule some online office hours at off-hours should be equally available for those teaching in the classroom.
Post a Comment