- To help students feel less isolated in their distance learning course, teachers can create discussion forums on the Discussion Board or discussion forums in a Group Discussion Board. If you are teaching a course through a Blackboard site, you can then respond to comments and questions that students submit to those forums. One problem you will have is that students will post comments and questions at any time, but you cannot be available to them at every hour. There are several solutions:
- Office Hours Folder: In the Staff Information section you can add some addtional information about office hours. You can also create a document in a folder titled "Office Hours" in the Course Information section or the Assignments section. In either of these areas you will list times that you will be available to students via a Discussion Board forum. Then you will create a discussion forum on the Discussion Board titled "Office Hours." When you create the forum, list times of day during the week when you will be at your computer reading messages that are posted in the forum.
- Telephone: In your "Office Hours" folder or in the staff information section, list times during the week when you will be available by telephone, either at home or in your office. Set aside this time to be available to receive calls from your students.
- Virtual Classroom: If the Virtual Classroom in the Communication area is available in your course, you can also use that section for a real-time chat room. You and students can log on at the same time and post messages to each other.
- Instant Messenger: You can create a buddy list with your students for AOL Instant Messenger or some other free chat service and connect at the same time to post messages back and forth at the same time.
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