Reflections Magazine Issue #74 - Spring 2011 | Page 9

Campus Feature

For 46-year-old Jim Riggs of Blissfield, Mich.,
it has been 25 years since he was in a classroom.
“The thought of stepping foot in a classroom
again was overwhelming,” he said. “I figured that
online (classes) made the most sense for me.
My job entails me to do a lot of data entry and
hardly any typing. So going into this, I was a little
challenged. I wasn’t sure how the entire online
concept worked but it was just a matter of getting used to the style, the threaded discussions,
the deadlines and managing everyday life around
those things.”
Because the course runs just eight weeks long,
each week is broken down into “units.” These
units consist of a combination of audio and Powerpoint presentations, even videos and links to
web articles, whatever Ryder believes will work
best. She then includes writing assignments
based on the reading material, and students have
a deadline to complete their assignments, submitting them via a virtual “drop box.” At times
Ryder even allows students to choose their own
topics to write about.
“The writing courses have journal entries which
are very interesting as they are responses to the
course,” Ryder said. “I communicate there with
the students as well as in the discussion threads.
Students also email me with questions, concerns
or problems. I don’t often get phone calls.”
Ryder (above right) said a key to being a successful online instructor is availability.
“I field emails all day long, some days more than
others,” she said. “I often check emails before I
go to bed, just in case someone out there has a
question. … Students log in when they can because many of our students work 24-hour shifts
as firefighters, EMTs or nurse’s aides. They can
log in any time of the day, seven days a week. …
I also have students in different time zones.”
“She gives clear directions in what she expects
and gives great feedback,” Neuman said of Ryder.
“She is also available when you need her.”
Ryder is constantly researching new technologies and course delivery methods, a process she
calls “fun.” When not teaching her multiple
classes, she is designing and redesigning courses
as well as training part-time online instructors
and preparing presentations. “It’s not for everyone, but it works well for me and most of my
students,” she said.

“Students log in when they
can because many of our
students work 24-hour shifts
. . . any time of the day, seven
days a week. I also have students in different time zones.”
Online students are required to participate in
threaded discussions as part of their overall
grade. Woods said student interaction online
is different than a grounded class, but she thinks
in some ways it’s better.
“I like to put my thought ́ѽ