Students: How can we increase Instructor participation

[Muhammad Alshareef]

Originally Posted by Umm Tarek

What about having an intermediary level of people who can answer the basic to moderate level questions? Everyone always wants to go to the 'biggest guy' to find a solution or answer a question when the 'biggest guys' should be reserved for the biggest questions. The instructors are experts in their field and can delve into areas the average person has hardly thought of. Why not save the best for the best and allow others with great knowledge, but at a level lower than the instructors, to answer the more common questions?
Sh. Muhammad, you said that in order to motivate someone whatever you are asking must be relevant/important to the person you are asking. I think by reserving only 'cutting edge' discussions for those standing at the cutting edge there would be more motivation for them to respond.

It's a very good point, the problem is that there is not a large enough pool of questions to pick the 'cutting edge'. Meaning, there is only say 10 questiosn for the instructor to respond to, if we filter those, then there is nothing left.

I like the concept though, and I'm thinking of it for the DiscoverU seminars. For example, say someone needs some coaching/therapy, and i don't have the time to listen/help them out. I can direct them to one of my certified coaches to take care of them.

[Sirius1]

So, what was the outcome of this thread? It seems like the forum situation is the same as it was 8 months ago; to be quite honest it seems a bit worse. If the instructors are not willing to answer student questions on the forums, then please make it OFFICIAL. That way there will be no lingering expectation that would make the students check their question threads a million times (metaphorically speaking)!

Thanks

[Dawud Israel]

Ya know when I went to my first seminar I thought the coolest thing would be to interact with the shaykh online. But realistically, at any given time there are 200-300 people on this forum. No shaykh can handle that--and I know I regularly send IslamToday at least 3 questions a week! (...You could talk to IslamToday and ask how their shaykhs handle the question loads...an Islamic DIY)

No, the value of this forum lies not in the shaykhs but the student body with their adaab, discussions and projects. This is more of a Muslim Activist forum than it is an academic forum. And I think that's a sign of student success which is a good thing...

Masha Allah la Quwatta illah billah!!

[Megan Wyatt]

Bismillah

As'salamu Alaikum,

I'm intersted in an update also. Shaykh Muhammad?

[Sirius1]

I guess we could have our own opinions on where the real value of the forum lies.

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Instructors answering class related questions on the forums was something that was marketed when AlMaghrib was being promoted.

So, a thing that comes to mind is...why market the service if it is not going to be provided as advertised? (Answer this question only if you happen to be one of the people who advertised that, if you don't fall into that category then, please refrain from posting your speculations).

Thanks

[Sirius1]

Meaning, there is only say 10 questiosn for the instructor to respond to, if we filter those, then there is nothing left.

A thing related to question quantity...

I think if the questions regularly get answered, then the quantity of questions could increase.

People are more encouraged to ask...when their inquiries are responded to!

Allah knows best!

[Megan Wyatt]

Bismillah

I have marketed things that way, as this is what I was told, and what some instructors said in the class itself, but then didn't follow thru.

Here was my basic question: It is either mandatory, as part of their commitment to AlMaghrib to do so, or its not.

If it is mandatory, and everyone agreed to it, with the most humility I say this: then it seems too ironic to have our own instructors not doing what they said they would do. May Allah forgive all of us our shortcomings. But it would be different if from time to time an instructor got a bit swamped, and was behind on getting to the forums. But to not find any comments at all, I am guessing, is a choice being made.

If it is NOT mandatory, then we are misleading people, and we need to stop marketing their participation, but then the instructors names should also be taken off as moderators for their classes, and instead, its optional if they would like to participate, but this breaks down one of the key purposes for the forums to begin with in regards to class threads.

As a teacher, even if it may be a humble YG class at my masjid, I would be THRILLED and totally INSPIRED to see students posting questions, thinking, and discusing class information. Specifically if I am not able to meet with them face to face. So, that, shoudl be enough motivation in and of itself. To know that people didn't just sit, listen, and go home, but that they are really digesting the information, and contemplating, is awesome.

ON the other hand, Shaykh Yasir made some excellent comments along time ago, about the "been there done that" questions, comments, etc. and so I also agreed with his points, and felt they were really relevant. Someone else suggested that the solution is the person who took the role of moderator for that forum could assist students in linking to preivously answered questions on the same subject.

I think all of the students know the shyukh are busy, and we really love them for the sake of Allah, but I still feel their participation is part of what makes AlMaghrib unique, and above the average, and is essential to the learning process.

[Sirius1]

^^MashaAllah!

But it would be different if from time to time an instructor got a bit swamped, and was behind on getting to the forums. But to not find any comments at all, I am guessing, is a choice being made.

It's not like instructors don't log on to the forums at all...A few obviously do, they seem to be posting on other threads...

So, I would call that more than a guess. To me the 'choice being made part' seems quite obvious.

Wallahu Alim

[Sirius1]

Today makes Day 3.

How should the silence be interpreted?

The instructors find this issue unimportant?

Or...This service will no longer be availabe? That is, it will made 100% clear to everyone that it is not available; and will not be marketed.

Or...Things are being worked out?

Really, it's not like this issue is new and we are expecting immediate answers. It has been this way for months or maybe even close to a year now!

[Megan Wyatt]

loool...Sister Hala you crack me up =) Masha'Allah!

I say we interpret eagerness as LOVE for the instructors and a strong desire to interact with them, and a LOVE for 'ILM, and AlMaghrib forums =) Makes it all that much sweeter!!