How to design, organize, and teach online effectively

transcript

http://onlineteachingandlearning.wikispaces.com/

Audience SurveyHow many have never taught online?

How many consider yourselves beginning online instructors, looking for ways to be more effective?

How many are already teaching online and feel like you have effective ideas that you can contribute here today?

Sink or Swim?AGENDA Getting Your Class Started

Creating a Clear Course StructureCreating a Strong Learning

EnvironmentDesigning Online Curriculum from

F2FFinding Your Virtual VoiceYour handout is an

outline of these slides and reference to the WIKI content.

Creating a Clear Course StructureCreating a Strong Learning

F2FFinding Your Virtual Voice

Getting Your Class StartedResearch shows:

Your navigational instructions must make the organization of the course easy to understand

You must have a welcoming announcement or statement at the beginning of the class that introduces the student to the course and to how student learning is structured

Have students introduce themselves to the other participants in the course

~QualityMatters.org, 2005-6 Rubric(An organization under Maryland Online)

Sample Welcomes

Possible Orientation ItemsWelcome announcementWhat to do firstCourse orientation—how online or hybrid worksDescribe a typical weekRequire reading of syllabus and

calendar/scheduleSelf-assessment for suitability of online learningIntroductory discussion board postingQuiz, checklist, commitment email or letterExplore the course

Students love it when the instructor replies to every single introduction message with an individual welcome to that student

Be enthusiastic; let your personality come through

Be assertive in following up with students—especially in the first two weeks

Tips for a Great Start

Creating a Clear Course StructureCreating A Strong Learning

Creating a Clear Course StructureResearch shows:

Instructions should be clear, consistent, intuitive

Take technical limitations into account

Keep it simple (KISS)

Face-to-face materials may need to be reorganized

Group together everything for one "module" (probably one week) into manageable chunks

Scaffold learning within the course development to "lead" the learner from one concept to the next logical concept

Students easily become frustrated with confusion within a course, inconsistent instructions, overkill of do's and don'ts

Sample Instructions

Tips for Course StructureStudents don’t like to click around. They want

everything right in front of them. So, your design goal should be to have as few “clicks” as possible.

Use color and motion sparingly for visual learners

Be as consistent as you can:

Keep your terminology consistent

Keep your directions consistent

Keep the look and feel and flow of the course consistent

Creating a Strong Learning EnvironmentResearch tells us:

The term “Learning Environment” has been used to indicate a type of learning task to denote virtual spaces found in computer applications and on the Internet, and to refer to the classroom psychosocial environment

Interactivity is probably the single most effective component in a learning community

Discussion Boards are widely used for creating interactivity in online courses

Examples“The point of our weekly discussions is to provide a forum where student communication can take place similar to what you would experience if you were attending an onsite class. It is often noted that students learn as much (if not more) before and after class in discussions and working with each other than they do during the class itself. Please put every effort into making this discussion requirement beneficial to everyone. But, also note, there are points associated with this part of the assignment. Refer to the Discussion Grading Rubric (Course Documents area) to see how your weekly discussion postings and replies will be evaluated.”

Discussion Grading RubricCriteria

Advanced(3-4)

Proficient(2-3)

Not Yet There(1-2)

Not There at All (0)

Development of Ideas

Well-developed ideas; introduces new ideas, and

stimulates discussion.

Developing ideas; sometimes stimulates

discussion.

Poorly developed ideas

which do not add to the discussion.

Does not enter the

discussion.

Evidence of Critical

Thinking

Clear evidence of critical thinking-application,

analysis, synthesis, and evaluation….

Beginning of critical thinking; postings tend to

address peripheral issues…

Poorly developed

critical thinking.

Does not enter the

discussion.

Clarity and Writing

Posts are well articulated and understandable, free

of spelling and grammatical errors.

Posts are understandable, but some effort is

required; one or two spelling or grammatical

errors

Posts are difficult to

clarify; several spelling or

grammatical errors.

Posts are unintelligibl

e or not present.

Responses / Replies

Interacts at least 3 times in response to other

original postings.

Interacts 2 times in response to other original

postings.

Interacts 1 time in response to other original

postings.

Does not reply to other

postings.Timeliness Individual messages and

at least three responses posted before deadlines.

Individual message posted before deadline but at

least one response is late.

Posting is made after deadline or all responses are

Everything is late or not completed.

~adapted from http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/otai/Examples/DiscussionQuestionExample.asp

Award points for and grade discussion participation

You cannot assume that students will read each discussion post; require replies to enforce this

Make discussion topics relevant to the students, relating what they are learning to the real world

Don’t do the students’ work for them, but BE PRESENT! (You must be a role model.)

Tips for Learning Environment

Designing Online Curriculum from F2FResearch shows:

Learners usually have a combination of learning styles

Online activities should provide significant experiences for each class participant

Many instructional strategies used in traditional classrooms can be successfully adapted to the online environment

Use a combination of instructional strategies, so different learning styles can be accommodated

~http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/instructionalstrategies.asp

Multiple Strategy AssignmentGet to class and talk! Discuss the following items:What problems have you had in taking tests?Any helpful tips for us?

Textbook Assignments

Chapter 15 Objective Tests

Field TripsWhat are tests like at other colleges? Are there practice SAT tests online?

Practice objective tests from other colleges.

What did you learn?

Note: Study Reading Project Due on Saturday. Field trip surveys.

~Lucy McDonald, Chemeketa Community College

Tips for F2F OnlineConsider electronic submission of

work/projects

Consider “web quests” or online scavenger hunts

Consider projects vs. tests to demonstrate knowledge and understanding

Finding Your Virtual VoiceResearch shows:

The overall idea of a Virtual Voice is to create a safe, interactive, and learner-centered environment for the student and instructor

This will not only help to retain students, but it also makes the job of an online facilitator a much more enjoyable experienceChange of focus from “expert teacher” to

“effective facilitator”

Another Welcome

http://newterra.chemeketa.edu/faculty/education/ed101lucy/Images/lucyintro/lucyhello.html

Examples of the Tone You Set—who are you?

Introduce yourself; let your students know what to call you (first name, Dr., Prof., etc.)

Your contact information; what you like to do when you aren’t teaching

A picture of yourself; the type of picture can set the tone (professional, relaxed, stern, friendly)

Examples of the Tone You Set—what can students expect from you?Regular announcements so students are alerted to

important matter and “see” that class is taking place

Reply to email within a 24-hour period

Be “present” in discussions several times each week

Virtual office hours (via chat or phone)

Return homework in timely manner

Use formative feedback; what they did well, what they need to work on, positive reinforcement

Create a Q&A forum (Water Cooler, Chat Café, etc.)

Call students by their first names in discussions

Schedule homework due dates when you will be most active for preceding two days

Be as flexible as possible with students—making it more of a “learner” experience than a “teacher” experience

Reach out to those who are not participating at beginning or in danger of failing near mid to end

Schedule (and announce) a day off for yourself

Tips for a Positive Tone