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The basics You’ve probably heard the comments about public speaking being a common fear, speaking on camera (and knowing that it is going to be recorded) brings out a special concern for many faculty. You can mitigate these concerns be being prepared, keeping some tips in mind, and staying flexible. Prepare yourself As you would […]

Many faculty have questions and concerns about teaching online and the process of getting ready to teach online. Here are some of the questions we have received – feel free to submit your own as well. Some things you may be thinking about as you prepare to get started: I hear teaching online takes less […]

The basics Designing an accessible course is an achievable goal if you spend time sorting out potential barriers during the design process. Yes, designing an accessible course is not something you do after finishing the design of a course. Instead, you should proactively integrate accessibility considerations into major components of your course: content, materials, activities, […]

The basics Online office hours can be an excellent way to interact with students, provide direct feedback, answer questions, and create community among a group of learners. Office hours can play a critical role in making students who are studying online feel less isolated and more connected to you and to other students. Identifying the […]

The basics Syllabi are highly personal — some are very short, some are very comprehensive. How you choose to describe your course and assignments is unique to you. However, you may find that when a syllabus is created for an online class, there are areas where you may need to be more explicit that you […]

The basics Face-to-face teaching frequently involves visual observation of students “understanding” a course. Faculty frequently use informal methods for what we call “formative assessment” but may not be familiar with the terminology or how to transform informal formative assessment to online. Have you ever experienced teaching a topic in your face-to-face class and getting the […]

The basics Group dynamics are a key part of facilitating meaningful discussions with students, both face to face and online. For this collaborative space to exist online, the instructor must know how to read the group using only written communication. Large and small group discussions are possible to conduct in distance education and they require […]

The basics You may have participated in or assigned a peer review assignment prior to this module. Regardless of your level of experience, you may have already formed opinions regarding the use of peer reviews as an education tool. When considering online courses, peer reviews can be a great and helpful option for you and […]

The basics Most of the time, when setting out on a journey, you know where you are headed and have a sense of how you’ll know when you’ve reached your destination. Learning objectives serve to define that destination for your course – it’ll be much easier for your students to engage with your course if […]

The basics Within all disciplines, we develop and utilize tools that can make our lives easier. Some tools can allow tasks to be completed more efficiently, while others may assist in fostering meaningful conversation. The online classroom is just as well-equipped for these needs. There are a variety of tools available that can enhance the […]