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The basics The cost of textbooks and other learning materials can be a major barrier for students who cannot afford required or supplemental resources. Luckily, as the online world grows more vast, access to open educational resources becomes increasingly available. What are open educational resources? An Open Educational Resource (OER) is an openly licensed text […]

The basics The nature of online learning is for education to be accessible and flexible for learners across any distance. With the use of asynchronous tools, participants can connect with one another without tuning in simultaneously. One of the greatest benefits of online learning is flexibility and accessibility in time and place. Students can engage […]

The basics Many faculty transitioning to online teaching are concerned with a disconnect between them and their students. With the help of synchronous tools, this issue can be mitigated to create an environment that fosters a healthy teaching-learning relationship. Any tool that permits/requires participants to be online at the same time (even though their locations […]

The basics Face-to-face classes have a certain rhythm. For example, you may be accustomed to a schedule that is similar to this: Sunday night, prepare or refresh your lecture slides for the week. Facilitate a class on Monday and Wednesday during which time you answer questions about an upcoming exam. On Thursday, hold office hours […]

The basics For many people, ‘conflict’ has a negative connotation. Though it is true that some types of conflict can be disruptive, there are other instances in which good conflict can be beneficial to the learning environment. Let’s explore the differences between productive/good and unproductive/bad conflict, and how to navigate them in your online classroom. […]

The basics The first step in learning the differences between online and face-to-face teaching is understanding that one is not necessarily ‘better’ than the other. There are numerous aspects of traditional teaching practices that are extremely valuable to distance education. However, online teaching requires facilitators to take the knowledge they currently have and expand upon […]

The basics Just as you would set up your face-to-face classroom prior to the start of each class, it is equally important to do the same for your online class. Appearance, sound, and visual aspects of video correspondence significantly impact how information is delivered and received. These recommendations will help make your lecture recordings and […]

The basics Hosting a videoconference or live session can feel daunting at first. Even if you are completely comfortable in front of a class, having to be on camera feels different for some people. Before you start During the session After the session Practical tips Resources University of Michigan CAI – Student guide for videoconferences […]

The basics You may be comfortable with giving exams or tests in your residential classroom, but what about now in your online class? You may be wondering if you even should give an online exam. (A note about language: Canvas’ testing tool is called Quizzes. This tool can be used for high or low stakes […]