Throughout his brief time in the TSYS School, computer science professor Linqiang Ge has worked to achieve and maintain excellence in online teaching, to ensure student success in the online learning environment, and to retain students in the TSYS School's academic programs. "I've embarked on a journey into online teaching, navigating through virtual classrooms and digital landscapes to deliver quality education to my students," Ge explained to Turner Business. When Ge first transitioned from traditional face-to-face instruction to online teaching, he made a significant adjustment in both mindset and approach. For him, that mean embracing digital tools and platforms in order to recreate the interactive learning experience that his students expected. Ge uses many different online teaching strategies to ensure that his students are engaged, satisfied with their instruction, and successful. The first of these strategies is to develop and maintain a personal rapport with his students, even in the online environment. According to Ge, "First, I make sure to post welcome information about not only the course, but also myself to allow students to feel more connected to me as an instructor. I also post a welcome video in my courses to help all feel welcome. Part of making students feel welcome is also being responsive. I pride myself on responding to all emails within 24 hours, to ensure students feel seen and heard. Answering emails in a timely fashion also helps ensure student success. Also, being willing to meet with students when it is convenient for them is always very much appreciated." One of the primary challenges Ge initially encountered was maintaining student engagement in a virtual setting. To address this, he redesigned course materials to be more interactive and visually stimulating. Incorporating multimedia elements, interactive simulations, and gamified learning activities helped sustain student interest and participation throughout the online sessions. Moreover, he leveraged collaborative tools like Google Docs and GitHub to encourage peer-to-peer learning and collaboration on coding projects. "Building a supportive and inclusive learning community was paramount in the online environment. I initiated virtual office hours, discussion forums, and group projects to foster meaningful interactions among students. Additionally, I utilized breakout rooms during live sessions to facilitate small group discussions and collaborative problem-solving exercises. By creating spaces for interaction and collaboration, I aimed to replicate the sense of camaraderie and teamwork synonymous with the traditional classroom setting. Navigating the virtual classroom wasn't without its technical hurdles. From internet connectivity issues to software compatibility concerns, I encountered various technical challenges along the way. To mitigate these issues, I provided detailed technical guidelines and troubleshooting resources to students, ensuring they could navigate the online environment with ease. Additionally, I maintained open lines of communication with IT support services to address any emerging technical issues promptly," Ge explained. Online teaching in computer science is an evolving process that requires continuous reflection and adaptation. Ge regularly solicits feedback from students through surveys and informal discussions in order to gauge their learning experiences and identify areas for improvement. Incorporating student feedback, he occasionally refines his teaching strategies, adjusted course materials, and experimented with new instructional approaches to enhance the overall learning experience. Through this process Ge has built an award-worthy portfolio of online teaching successes.
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