Welcome

The Broad Overview
      Online Learners

Course Design
      Introduction
      Types of Web Courses
      Converting to Online
      Best Practices
      Course Design
      Design Elements
      Instructional Creativity
      Communication Issues
      Online Assessment
      Using Multi-Media
      Copyright Issues
      References

Course Dev. Workshop

Online Literature
      Scholarly Resources
      Teaching Resources
      Useful Links


Best Practices for Online Teaching:

At the Telelearning '97 Conference http://www.pbs.org/als/frn/principle.htm, Faculty listed 8 pedagogical standards of good practice in online courses. We think these principles make excellent sense and we encourage their use.

Principle 1 - Encourage student-faculty contact

  • Inform students of the faculty member's expected e-mail or voicemail response time, e.g., within 24 hrs, twice a week, etc.
  • Establish a virtual office hour: one hour where instructor will be available for online chats, or office phone calls, or email. If missed, student must wait until next "office hour."
  • Be proactive. Follow up on the student who is not participating in chats, discussions, etc.
  • Outline the protocol for e-mail, voicemail, or other communication means.

Principle 2 - Encourage student cooperation

  • Design activities that promote cooperation
  • Give parameters and provide an organization of the course that encourages cooperation.
  • Techniques for fostering student cooperation:
    1. Use peer review
    2. Use chats and BBS
    3. Assign group projects
    4. Use small chat groups

Principle 3 - Encourage active learning

  • Ask students to provide URLs that enhance learning
  • Use an electronic forum
  • Encourage the exchange of phone numbers or addresses for the formation of study groups or other group activities
  • Set up group activities, especially in interactive TV mode
  • Videotape a presentation to convey course objectives
  • Preplan activities by faculty

Principle 4 - Give prompt feedback

  • Respond with daily e-mail:
    1. with answers to questions
    2. comments about telelessons they are watching
    3. to links with student study groups
  • Return tests and papers in one week
  • Hold virtual office hours (online or by phone) at convenient (for the students) hours

Principle 5 - Emphasize Time on Task

  • Give students something to respond to for each class or lesson
  • Post notes from each reading and then have each student respond
  • Use open-ended questions to encourage dialog
  • Build in a reward system of points for student work
  • Construct relevant and practical assignments, giving students an opportunity to apply their knowledge
  • Give specific directions, timelines, due dates
  • Make it fun
  • Create a structure that can be followed, allowing for acceleration of pace
  • Build in students teaching other students

Principle 6 - Communicate High Expectations

  • Syllabus should include course goals, performance objectives, examples of student work
  • Syllabus should include information on how to contact instructor
  • Course packet should include more than syllabus
  • Instructors
    1. need to set high standards themselves
    2. should model through example
    3. should convey enthusiasm for subject (emoticons)
    4. should pass along their passion for the subject
    5. keep contact with students in order to convey enthusiasm

Principle 7 - Respect Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

  • Recognize, respect, and reward creativity
  • Set objectives but allow alternate options for demonstrating student achievement
  • Understand different pacing

Principle 8 - Make Effective Use of the Technology

  • Establish/follow consistent software or technology across campus
  • Use consistent course designs
  • Do not use multiple competing technologies
  • Have help desk (7 days, 24 hrs) for all technology
  • Need to have flexibility in use of technology, needs to be a mix of technology

Other Useufl Links about Principles of Good Practice