Things to Consider…
- Teaching online is harder and more time-consuming that teaching face to face, but is very rewarding!
- Avoid the mistake of simply posting lecture videos and calling it good. Students’ online attention span is 10-15 minutes. You don’t have the luxury of reading faces, gestures, yawns and laughs online. Chunk video content into shorter segments. Watch my presentation on podcasting.
- Determine what is MOST important in terms of course content. We think that everything we profess is important, but given the nature of online, be selective. I suggest choosing 1 or maybe 2 topics per week. Try to include as many methods of learning the content as possible…videos, readings, activities and online discussions. Review my online discussion resources.
- Work hard to establish online culture…make your presence known. Post a short video of yourself, even if students know you from a face to face course. If the course is being taken from the classroom to online due to extenuating circumstance, reassure students that you have everything under control, adjustments to assignment/grade will be made as a result of the transition, and if they hang with you, they WILL complete the course.
- Consider altering assignments and grading approaches during the transition to online. Reflection papers on the week’s content, participation in discussion, short podcasts/videos that the students produce, info graphics, Powerpoint presentations, images of notebook entries and discussion rubrics are great weekly assessment strategies.
- Maintain on online presence…did I mention students need to know you have this under control? That doesn’t mean you are online all the time 24/7, but you can make it appear that way 🙂 Committing to being online daily, answering email messages promptly and creating a reasonable and predictable expectation for returning assignments is key. I give myself one week to return assignments. I tell students they can call me if they have questions. Not all instructor are comfortable with this, so you make the call. However, I have found that no one has abused that offer in the nearly 25 years I’ve taught online.
- Say it, say it and say it again. When creating your online course, you can’t overstate anything. Just because some fine point is buried on page 6 of your syllabus doesn’t mean students will find it. Be very clear about expectations and state them repeatedly.
- Be aware that technology is fickle. Online delivery systems crash, connectivity issues will happen, students may be trying to do their work on a phone or tablet and find there are issues. Just know it’s going to happen and make accommodations accordingly.
