Evaluate 3.1.2 Self-Reflection on Teaching Abilities Quest

Submit evidence of reflection on your individual teaching abilities.

Really it seems like the entire blog project and process of getting certified suggests reflection on my teaching abilities as an online teacher with Georgia Virtual.  

I have taught online for the last 8 years with various age groups and ability levels, and have designed curriculum as well.  I would estimate that in the last 8 years I have taught a number somewhere in the thousands (wow that is shocking and humbling to me).   

When doing so I have learned, sometimes through a lot of trial and error, the following about myself as an online educator.  These are ideals, and although life does sometimes interfere with them, they are the standards by which I run my online courses.  

1.  The most focused and self-contained the learning modules, the better for both myself and students. 
2.  The best way to ensure online success for students is frequent feedback.  Any online course should be checked at least 5 times a week, but this is a minimum.  Generally twice a day, 6 days a week for 12 checks.  Students need to see the instructor in the course room.  Likewise, assignments need to be returned with specific and substantial feedback within the shortest amount of time possible. 
3.  Like feedback, stay consistent with an approach and don't deviate too much with specific due dates and assignments.  Students need to see consistency; instead of modifying assignments, keep them the same and help students get there, even if the assignment might have flaws. 
4.  Remember that it is still education, and that even though it's an online environment, that there are real people with real concerns, hopes, fears, etc behind the screen.   This is sometimes easy to forget when the work just becomes something to check-off a to do list.
5.  Finally, the same skills that help students excel in a regular classroom are usually the same ones in the online classroom.  Build relationships, help when needed, show interest, be interesting, etc work in both places.  It's just a matter of adjusting the presentation sometimes with a computer.