Communicate 2.1.1 Identify Stakeholders

Do the descriptions correlate to your perception?How can they be expanded upon or described further?

Direct stakeholders in online learning are the instructor, the student, the parents and the local school administration. Indirect stakeholders are the immediate neighborhood surrounding the school, continuing outward in concentric circles encompasses local places of worship, community centers, law enforcement, local governments (city, county, state, national) and finally the world at large.

This post will list and describe the direct stakeholders. Each is a leg of a chair. Without each leg responsibly supporting the successful online learning process, the chair is unbalanced.

The Instructor -  The Instructor sets the tone of the online classroom by creating an environment of open, timely and constant communication amongst all stakeholders, particularly with the student and parents. Communication needs to be with a warm, supportive professional tone. I find that it always helps to contact parents with a positive remark about their child in the early stages of the course's beginning to develop that non-judgmental rapport.

The Student - The learner starts the course with a true desire to engage and understand the course content. She is proactive in reaching out to her instructor when she doesn't understand an assignment or instructions after having read directions and attempted the task. The student utilizes the many resources available within the CMS: student progress dashboard, synchronous sessions, e-mails, instant messaging & phone calls when information is unclear.

The Parents - Parents' role as coaches who encourage their student by monitoring her work progress and who provide the hardware (computer) & time management/space (scheduling structure) needed for the student's academic success is greater in the online learning environment than in the face-to-face classroom. Parents are encouraged to reach out to the instructor if they have concerns in an effort to work as a team for the benefit of the student.

The Local School Administration - The local school administration plays a pivotal role by serving as a tremendous resource to the student (an advocate when the student enrolls in the course & needs additional administrative support), the teacher (functions as a colleague/partner on behalf of the student's well-being) and the parents (by providing the logistics so that their child has access to a virtual learning option).