The term ivory tower is a euphemism for being out of touch with practical or “real-world” matters. With respect to leadership, the more leaders distance themselves from the experiences of their front-line workers, the more out of touch they can become with the granular-level implications of their decisions. For as much as technology is changing the world of higher education, institutions need to invest not only in new technologies, but also in the “flow of know-how” Read more →
Posts tagged: higher education
Transported Presence
Transported presence is the idea that we can be present someplace without having to go there physically. We now have the ability to bring people together from remote locations into digital spaces (e.g. virtual room, virtual desktop, video chat/IM). The implication is that we can eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the distance between us. We’ve already been doing this since the invention of the telephone, but with advances in technology, communicating at a distance doesn’t need to feel so… distant.
Desktop Sharing in Distance Advising
Desktop sharing is an easy way to collaborate online because you can meet with people from around the world at one convenient location in real time – your desktop! Chances are if you work or go to school, you use a computer quite frequently. Online students usually do both, so it is important to open lines of communication with them in a convenient, time-effective way. Distance advisors can use desktop sharing to conduct group advising sessions, deliver presentations, or even provide remote assistance if necessary.
Screencasting in Distance Advising
A screencast is nothing more than a digital recording of one’s computer screen, which is usually accompanied by some sort of audio narration that explains what’s happening. Screencasts are useful because they allow you to demonstrate a specific activity or teach others how to perform a particular task, which might otherwise be too cumbersome to explain over the phone or through chat. Another useful way to use screencasts is to record a presentation, which can then be uploaded as a video (youtube), downloaded as a movie file, or shared via a link.
Advising notes: A MAPP for consistency
If you didn’t document it, then it didn’t happen.
This phrase speaks to the importance maintaining accurate academic advising notes. Documenting student-advisor interactions promotes continuity of service from one advisor to the next. The advising notes must tell a story that clearly outlines a student’s progress toward achieving academic and career goals and the services that have been provided to that student. Some advisors write a novel to document conversations whereas other advisors write so many abbreviations that reading their notes can be like deciphering a secret code.
How to Build Relationships…At a Distance
Building relationships with online students can be challenging for many reasons. Aside from the lack of face-to-face interaction, faculty and advisors may already have multiple responsibilities and roles within an institution, limiting the time they can invest in relationship-building. Moreover, cultural differences in communication styles influence how rapport is developed and adapting to them can be challenging. Still, some students may not realize the extent to which they must be self-directed in the learning process, which can fuel negative feelings when expectations are not aligned with reality. In person, faculty and advisors use body language to develop rapport (e.g. smile, eye contact, handshake). In online learning, however, that direct contact doesn’t exist. So how can we compensate for the distance that separates us from our students? What exactly must we do to build relationships at a distance?
Don’t Make Contact, Make Connections
Academic advisors are in the business of relationships; it’s what we do. We talk to students about their future aspirations, prepare them for academic success, and help them navigate the labyrinth of university policies and procedures. For some reason however, when one talks about distance advising, the latest technology in academic advising dominates the conversation; as if the relational aspect of academic advising is irrelevant. Why is that?
