First day - online vs. F2F

Earlier this week I was pleased to meet with my students for the first day of the fall semester. On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, I introduced three sections of students to the F2F version of LIS 1600 University Library & Research Skills. I saw 120 students (40 in each of the sections). Most are first semester freshmen, some upperclassmen. Before each class began, several of us chatted in a friendly way - I asked the usual questions, where are you from, what's your major, etc. It was as pleasant as it is every semester. Then, as class start time approached and I began to take roll, almost all students seemed to shut down. "ok, I will just let this teacher drone on and what she says will just kind of flow around me. I might absorb a little bit, but not much. I have heard all this first day blathering before." Occasionally, a hand full would chuckle at my jokes, but for the most part the all just sat there struggling to look as if they were listening. No one asked questions even when I called for them periodically. No one had any comments when I asked who did something interesting during summer break. Most did write down the assignment since I prompted them to get out their planner and do so. So, I talked for 45 minutes and when I dismissed them, they picked up their back packs and left. I know this semester will be like every other over the past 14 years of teaching. Over time, we will get to know one another and I will be asking them to STOP talking and listen to me! But for now, it feels as if I won't have any impact on any of them.

Then came my afternoon class meeting. This semester I am teaching one of my online sections with a little bit of a twist. It is 16-weeks instead of 8; there will be three online class meetings using Adobe Connect; and we are having one F2F orientation meeting Wednesday, August 17, 2011. This section has 50 students enrolled instead of 40. I hadn't really thought about what to expect prior to meeting, but if I had, I would have expected the same passive "is she done talking yet?" attitude. Boy, was I surprised. Several talked, many asked questions - and good, thoughtful, questions about how this online thing was gonna work. They didn't wait for me to call for questions, they interrupted, politely, but they asked what they needed an answer to, when they needed the answer. It was lively and invigorating. Questions were asked by one student, and I could see relief and understanding on many faces. We negotiated points for the three f2f meetings.

I know what I will do differently in spring 2012. First, we will meet in a room where students can have computer access and set up their account for the web-based textbook and log in to Bb and explore. We will also practice using Adobe Connect. The fear of the unknown is overwhelming to some students. The idea of be responsible for looking at the week's assignments and complete the work without prompting is a very foreign concept to students. There is so much written about digital natives, millenials, and tech-savy teenagers. I am not so sure about this idea...Yes, of course, they know enough to get by with email and Facebook and the occasional google search, but the comfort level with unfamiliar technology is very low for most students.