Presented by: Julie Hutchin & Kathy Chatfield Clark College, Vancouver How to design, organize, and teach online effectively Presented by: Julie Hutchin & Kathy Chatfield Clark College, Vancouver http://onlineteachingandlearning.wikispaces.com/

Audience Survey How 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?

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating a Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice Your handout is an outline of these slides and reference to the WIKI content.

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating a Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice

Getting Your Class Started Research 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 Items Welcome announcement What to do first Course orientation—how online or hybrid works Describe a typical week Require reading of syllabus and calendar/schedule Self-assessment for suitability of online learning Introductory discussion board posting Quiz, checklist, commitment email or letter Explore the course

Orientation Examples

Example

Tips for a Great Start 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

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating A Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice

Creating a Clear Course Structure Research 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 Announcement

Sample Module Design

Sample Instructions

Tips for Course Structure Students 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

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating A Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice

Creating a Strong Learning Environment Research 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 Rubric Criteria 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. 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 unintelligible 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 late. Everything is late or not completed. ~adapted from http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/otai/Examples/DiscussionQuestionExample.asp

Tips for Learning Environment 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.)

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating A Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice

Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Research 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

Resource from Illinois Online:

Multiple Strategy Assignment Get 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 Trips What 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  Online Consider electronic submission of work/projects Consider “web quests” or online scavenger hunts Consider projects vs. tests to demonstrate knowledge and understanding

Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating A Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice

Finding Your Virtual Voice Research 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 experience Change 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.)

Tips for a Positive Tone 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

Any Questions? Getting Your Class Started Sink or Swim? AGENDA Getting Your Class Started Creating a Clear Course Structure Creating A Strong Learning Environment Designing Online Curriculum from F2F Finding Your Virtual Voice Any Questions?