PPEL – Online teaching techniques

Centre for Teaching and Learning. Good practice – Integrating technology, available at http://www.queensu.ca/ctl/goodpractice/technology/strategies.html. Accessed on 22-11-2009.

Strategies for Teaching in Online Environments

Teaching Strategies

• instructional design is critical
• design it ahead of time and think through everything you are asking the students to do – and make sure it works
• relax and have fun learning about the new experience
• remember it takes time to develop a teaching style online
• evaluate your course regularly
• keep web pages up to date and current
• the most important role you will have is as a cheerleader and motivator, as people tend to get very unmotivated in an online environment
• be prepared
• tools are secondary — learning is critical
• try to push the limits of what’s possible, I know this advice doesn’t solve practical problems but have to get beyond them
• trying to replicate what you do in the regular classroom is pointless if not impossible
• make sure you know what you are getting into, expect to work harder than with any other course
• try not to feel that you have to respond to every comment
• use time-management strategies for online teaching and feedback

Engaging the Students

• course development must be student friendly and where students are active participants rather than bystanders to learning
• the same pace, content and approach will produce different results with different people
• encourage mentoring relationships and learning communities
• be explicit to students about the norms and grading
• don’t underestimate how much time students are spending online, doing readings, reading each others discussion and posting – think about the workload – and don’t overload them

Technology Related Strategies

• have students experiment more on the web so they aren’t afraid of the technology
• ensure that good technical support is in place
• use the web once or twice a week purely for fun, that way you can become comfortable with the technology
• keep track of any difficulties with the technology or course design
• learn how to work effectively with students who are anxious about online learning and listen to and diffuse any concerns about the online learning process
• campaign for more resources; e.g., improved access, adequate equipment, and technical support