1. Fostering Community in Online Courses Presented by: Dr. Xuemei Hu of Union County College Dr. Kathleen Cleary and Midge Hall of Clark State Community College

2. OVERVIEW GREAT BEGINNINGS KEEP IT GOING ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

3. GREAT BEGINNINGS Welcome Page Home Page Activities Early Class Discussions Email Assignments

4. Welcome Page as Friendly Course Opener Course descriptionCourse description Anytime, anywhere learningAnytime, anywhere learning Easy accessEasy access Contact informationContact information SOC 101 Welcome PageSOC 101 Welcome PageSOC 101 Welcome PageSOC 101 Welcome Page

5. Home Page as Logical Organizers Course syllabusCourse syllabus Course content and Web sourcesCourse content and Web sources Three modes of interactionThree modes of interaction Course evaluationCourse evaluation SOC 101 Online CourseSOC 101 Online CourseSOC 101 Online CourseSOC 101 Online Course

6. Early Class Discussion as Students’ Primary Guide Get acquaintedGet acquainted Know course requirementsKnow course requirements Learn how to minimize “distance”Learn how to minimize “distance” Let students teach studentsLet students teach students Warm up QuestionsWarm up QuestionsWarm up QuestionsWarm up Questions

7. More Warm up Strategies Theatre Courses –Theatre History ( Welcome Message)Theatre History –Introduction to Theatre (“For Dr. K”)Introduction to Theatre Chemistry Courses –Intro. to General Chemistry (1 st Email) –Fundamentals of Chemistry (Introductions)Fundamentals of Chemistry

8. KEEP IT GOING Regular Progress Reports Group Assignments/Discussions Office Hour Chats

9. Progress Reports Theatre courses –Theatre HistoryTheatre History –Introduction to TheatreIntroduction to Theatre Chemistry Courses –Intro. to General Chemistry –Fundamentals of Chemistry

10. Group Projects/Discussions Theatre courses –Attending a play: I Can’t WaitAttending a play –Group Discussion: Final ThoughtsGroup Discussion Chemistry courses –Unit ProjectsUnit Projects –Challenging the InstructorChallenging the Instructor

11. Office Hours Chats Poll students to select the best time Publicize and remind students about times Suggest a topic for each week’s chat

12. ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL Final Study Guide & Projects Student Evaluations Term Wrap Up

13. Study Guide Study Guide for THE 130Study Guide

14. Student Evaluations Let students evaluate courseLet students evaluate course Let students evaluate performanceLet students evaluate performance

15. Term Wrap up as rewarding online experience Compile and post all assignmentsCompile and post all assignments Check “final grade”Check “final grade” Compiling and fulfillingCompiling and fulfilling course requirementsCompiling and fulfillingCompiling and fulfilling course requirements

16. Finale Make the initial pages friendly & informative Solve technical challenges in the first week Communication is a priority! Finish with satisfied students who have learned

17. end!