1. Teaching Online Courses: TA Roles and Resources Jim Witte, Ph.D. Applied Technologies for Learning in the Arts & Sciences University of Illinois www.jimwitte.com/workshops/gradacademy2011

2. What I’ll be talking about today… The context of online teaching @ Illinois, a residential university Online Learning From a student perspective Online Teaching From the instructor/TA perspective

3. WHAT ROLE DOES ONLINE LEARNING HAVE AT ILLINOIS?

4. Growth in online courses at UIUC follows national higher education trends. Over 5.6 million students were taking at least one online course nationally during the fall 2009 term 21% growth rate for online enrollments nationally > 2 % growth of the overall higher education student population. Nearly 30% of higher education students nationally now take at least one course online. http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/class_differences

5. Online courses are offered both to residential and non-residential students. Online Courses Non-residential degree programs Non-residential courses Residential General Education Courses Residential new degree programs

6. LAS Online is the college online course initiative. Flexibility Scheduling Space Access Residential Non-residential Learning Environment Large enrollment Transfer articulation

7. ONLINE LEARNING FROM A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Keys to student success online

8. Learning online is different for students. Students may expect work to decrease, flexibility and free time will increase. Doesn’t typically work out this way. Student will be successful if they are able to manage their time well, work independently, and negotiate the online social environment.

9. ONLINE TEACHING FROM AN INSTRUCTOR/TA PERSPECTIVE

10. Activity: Think Pair Share Question: Given what we know about the keys to success for online learners, how might the work activity of an online TA/instructor be different than a face-to-face instructor?

11. The role of the instructor/TA online shifts from presenter to facilitator. Online course gradingdiscussion Keep students on task Establish online social tone Set online course expectations

12. More tips for online facilitators Be present: discussions, announcements, private emails Design a course with a mix of student-teacher, student-student, student-resource interactions. Mix synchronous and asynchronous activities Obtain informal feedback (surveys, etc)

13. Teaching online is a skill that can be learned. ION: Illinois Online Network – www.ion.uillinois.edu. LAS has a tuition plan for LAS instructors/TAs to attend ION courses (non-credit). www.ion.uillinois.edu SLOAN-C workshops: Instructors/TAs teaching online may register for SLOAN-C workshops at no charge. ATLAS is in the process of developing online tutorials on a dept by dept basis. Newsletter!

14. ATLAS TLT Newsletter Sign up for our newsletter on online teaching at: Go.illinois.edu/atlastltworkshops