Identify Stakeholders Quest - (Communicate 2.1.1)

Within the domain of online learning, there are definite stakeholders in the educational process. What are stakeholders, you ask? Stakeholders are the reason online education exists--the people who hold a vested interest in an entity's success or failure.  If educators, students, parents, administrators, and facilitators weren't a part of the process, there would be no process at all!  

In the virtual classroom, communication is of the utmost importance.  Since attendance is not required in a brick and mortar environment, communication must take place through alternative venues.  This communication must be consistent and effective.  I will highlight the descriptions of each group as listed in this quest (www.openteachertraining.org/blog/quest/communicate-2-1-1/) and the part they play within the virtual school environment.

Instructors: Communication should be constant, timely, specific, and adheres to the policies delineated by the school. The instructor should strive to communicate freely with all stakeholders with both positive commentary on performance, as well as communications centering on areas of weakness and/or concern. All instructors must employ a professional tone, ensure availability to students, and monitor student progress constantly.

Students:  As a student in an online course, one must ensure that communication remains continuous with the instructor, questions are asked freely, emails are specific and employ the appropriate tone, and all school policies are adhered to in the correspondence. All students should be proactive and create a dialogue with their respective instructors immediately upon entering the course. Synchronous sessions, email, and phone calls provide students with three specific mediums for presenting questions to instructors, concerning the curriculum, areas of weakness, feedback, and performance in the course.

Parents/Facilitators: As parents of students enrolled in an online course, the concept of effective communication takes a more specific form, in that parents play an active role in the success of their students and instructors rely heavily on the support of parents for continued student achievement.  In truth, parents assume the role of a “coach,” and guide, encourage, and assist their students throughout the learning process. If parents are comfortable with the content, learning platform, and standards, students will seek assistance more freely, asking questions, sharing insights, and knowledge. Typically, parents have the ability to check student progress with auditor accounts, and this affords real-time analysis of grades and overall performance in the course.  

Administration: A number of online learning programs integrate a hybrid approach to virtual learning, and the schools have facilitators or administrative team leads that oversee the progress of students enrolled in both online learning course and the traditional school model.  For online instructors, the local school offers an additional level of support for student achievement and establishing a strong relationship benefits all stakeholders. Staff is available to assist those students enrolled in a virtual class during the school day by monitoring productivity, responding to specific questions, and collaborating with the instruction with distinct observations and questions. Additionally, the local school administration staff provide another mode of contact with parents.

Do the descriptions correlate to your perception?

In my opinion, these descriptions are very accurate for each group.  Each part of the online educational process is important and should facilitate communication and follow through at as many intervals as possible.  Success depends upon all parties that are involved in the process!
How can they be expanded upon or described further?

I would expand their descriptions to emphasize the importance and needs for each specific part.  Bottom line, we are available and at the ready to serve and instruct our students.  Without our students, we would simply not have an online educational program in the first place!
Are there other stakeholders within an online environment not considered above?

Local communities and businesses are future stakeholders in that they will reap the benefits of the students we educate as they obtain employment in the work world.  They should be consulted, when possible, to make sure we are teaching the soft skills and real world life skills that will assist students in becoming self sufficient and successful members of society.