Assessment Strategies for Online Learning by
Assessment has provided educational institutions with information about student learning outcomes and the quality of education for many decades. But has it informed practice and been fully incorporated into the learning cycle? Conrad and Openo argue that the potential inherent in many of the new learning environments being explored by educators and students has not been fully realized. In this investigation of a variety of assessment methods and learning approaches, the authors aim to discover the tools that engage learners and authentically evaluate education. They insist that moving to new learning environments, specifically those online and at a distance, afford opportunities for educators to adopt only the best practices of traditional face-to-face assessment while exploring evaluation tools made available by a digital learning environment in the hopes of arriving at methods that capture the widest set of learner skills and attributes.
Online Learning by
In every online class, some students are wildly successful, some earn average or slightly below-average grades, some barely pass, some fail, and some drop out. Whatever a student's age, situation, or lifestyle, everything needed for successfully completing an online class is right here in this book. Each chapter covers a specific element of online learning and provides the new online student with practical strategies and how-to information so that any student can go into an online classroom prepared to succeed. This book has strategies and tips that every online professor wants students to know before they sign up for an online class. Bowman has provided a reference tool for students to develop self-directed learning skills that will help them become secure and knowledgeable about technology, studying, communicating online, and getting work done on time.
The Perfect Online Course by
A volume in Perspectives in Instructional Technology and Distance Education Series Editors: Charles Schlosser and Michael Simonson Nova Southeastern University The Perfect Online Course: Best Practices for Designing and Teaching was edited under the assumption that a perfect online course can be delivered following different instructional methods and models for design and for instruction, and by implementing different teaching or instructional strategies. Such methods, models, and strategies are framed within quality educational guidelines and must be aimed towards attaining the online course's learning goals. The book seeks to make a contribution to the existing body of literature related to best practices and guidelines for designing and teaching distance courses, specifically online education. The process of selecting works suitable for this compilation included an extensive review of the journals Quarterly Review of Distance Education and Distance Learning. The book begins by covering literature related to general approaches and guidelines, continues with proposed methods and models for designing and instruction, and ends with instructional strategies to achieve engagement through interaction. The book is divided into four independent, yet interrelated, parts and a concluding section: Part I: Introduction; Part II: Best Guidelines and Standards; Part III: Best Instructional Methods and Models; Part IV: Best Engagement Strategies; and the concluding section, And Finally..., with words from Simonson who delineates the structure of a perfect online course.
The Successful Virtual Classroom by
Virtual training and instruction has allowed students from different continents to learn simultaneously from a distinguished professor, as well as dispersed employees of a transnational company to participate together in training seminars. Because of this unprecedented flexibility it has provided for today's learning professionals, virtual training is undoubtedly here to stay--which means designers and facilitators need to learn to adapt their programs and delivery styles if they are going to be as effective virtually as they are in the physical classroom.The Successful Virtual Classroom goes beyond merely introducing the technology that has already become commonplace in many areas of society today, and instead seeks to offer trainers proven techniques tailored specifically to engage line online audiences. By being shown how to best utilize some easy-to-use tools, checklists, and worksheets, readers will learn how to:* Make the most of virtual classroom features such as content and screen sharing, annotation tools, polls, and breakout rooms* Weave chat responses into the discussion* Compensate for the absence of body language* Monitor feedback* Engage individuals with different learning styles* Encourage audience contribution* Meet the unique needs of global participants* And moreFeaturing case studies from Oracle, UPS, and others who have maximized this new medium's potential, as well as icebreakers and interactive exercises designed for an online environment, this book helps readers create programs that truly drive learner engagement.
Accessible Elements by
Delivery of university-level courses through online and distanceeducation can overcome barriers such as geographical location, lectureand lab scheduling, or their job and family commitments, distancedelivery offers practical alternatives to traditional on-campuseducation. The aim of this collection is to inform science educatorsabout current practices in online and distance education:distance-delivered methods for laboratory coursework, the requisiteadministrative and institutional aspects of online and distanceteaching, as well as the relevant educational theory.
Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning by
Online teachers increasingly realize that they have to connect with their students as they would in face-to-face classes. They have to provide true opportunities for inspirational and meaningful learning, rather than a sterile experience of clicking within a labyrinth of links. The author shows how she applies learning theories to online discussion-based courses. She presents a wealth of suggestions and techniques, illustrated by examples, for stimulating and managing online participation and improving teaching practices; and concludes with methods for assessing the efficacy of online courses.
Essentials of Online Course Design by
In spite of the proliferation of online learning, creating online courses can still evoke a good deal of frustration, negativity, and wariness in those who need to create them. The second edition of Essentials of Online Course Design takes a fresh, thoughtfully designed, step-by-step approach to online course development. At its core is a set of standards that are based on best practices in the field of online learning and teaching. Pedagogical, organizational, and visual design principles are presented and modeled throughout the book, and users will quickly learn from the guide¿s hands-on approach. The course design process begins with the elements of a classroom syllabus which, after a series of guided steps, easily evolve into an online course outline. The guide¿s key features include: a practical approach informed by theory clean interior design that offers straightforward guidance from page one clear and jargon-free language examples, screenshots, and illustrations to clarify and support the text a checklist of online course design standards that readers can use to self-evaluate. a Companion Website with examples, adaptable templates, interactive learning features, and online resources: http://essentialsofonlinecoursedesign.com Essentials of Online Course Design serves as a best practice model for designing online courses. After reading this book, readers will find that preparing for online teaching is a satisfying and engaging experience. The core issue is simply good design: pedagogical, organizational, and visual. For more of Marjorie Vai in her own words, listen to this 2011 interview from the On Teaching Online podcast: http://onteachingonline.com/oto-16-essentials-of-online-course-design-with-marjorie-vai/
The Online Teaching Survival Guide by
Essential reading for online instructors, updated to cover new and emerging issues and technologies The Online Teaching Survival Guide provides a robust overview of theory-based techniques for teaching online or technology-enhanced courses. Covering all aspects of online teaching, this book reviews the latest research in cognitive processing and related learning outcomes while retaining a focus on the practical. A simple framework of instructional strategies mapped across a four-phase timeline provides a concrete starting point for both new online teachers and experienced teachers designing or revamping an online course. Essential technologies are explored in their basic and expanded forms, and traditional pedagogy serves as the foundation for tips and practices customized for online learning. The tips cover course management, social presence, community building, integration of new technologies, discussion and questioning techniques, assessment, and debriefing, along with new coverage of intensive or accelerated courses, customizing learning strategies, developing expertise, advanced course design, and assessment techniques exclusive to this new second edition. The theory and techniques of successful online teaching can be significantly different from those used face-to-face. With more and more classes being offered online, this book provides a valuable resource for taking your course to the next level. Understand the technology used in online teaching Learn specialized pedagogical tips and practices Examine new research on cognition and learning Adopt a clear framework of instructional strategies The explosion of online learning has created a demand for great online teachers. Increasingly, faculty who normally teach face-to-face are being asked to cover online courses'yet comprehensive pedagogical resources are scarce. The learning curve is huge, and faculty need a practical approach to course design and management that can be quickly and easily implemented. The Online Teaching Survival Guide provides that essential resource, with a customizable framework and deeper exploration of effective online teaching.
Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone by
Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities have worked hard to make universal design in the built environment "just part of what we do." We no longer see curb cuts, for instance, as accommodations for people with disabilities, but perceive their usefulness every time we ride our bikes or push our strollers through crosswalks. This is also a perfect model for Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework grounded in the neuroscience of why, what, and how people learn. Tobin and Behling show that, although it is often associated with students with disabilities, UDL can be profitably broadened toward a larger ease-of-use and general diversity framework. Captioned instructional videos, for example, benefit learners with hearing impairments but also the student who worries about waking her young children at night or those studying on a noisy team bus. Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone is aimed at faculty members, faculty-service staff, disability support providers, student-service staff, campus leaders, and graduate students who want to strengthen the engagement, interaction, and performance of all college students. It includes resources for readers who want to become UDL experts and advocates: real-world case studies, active-learning techniques, UDL coaching skills, micro- and macro-level UDL-adoption guidance, and use-them-now resources.
The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching by
Instructors are under pressure to integrate technology intotheir traditional or online instruction, but often they aren't surewhat to do or why they should do it. The Technology Toolbelt forTeaching offers instructors a down-to-earth guide to commontechnologies, explains the pedagogical purposes they serve, andshows how they can be used effectively in online or face-to-faceclassrooms. Designed to be easy to use, the book includes a decision-makingmatrix for each technology tool: a series of questions thatteachers can use to decide whether these tools support theirteaching goals. This comprehensive resource contains an array of useful toolsthat address problems of organization such as a time managementcalendar, aids for scheduling meetings, and mind-mapping or graphicorganizers. The authors also include a variety of online tools forcommunication and collaboration, and tools to present content, helpestablish presence, and assess learning. Praise for The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching "Feeling overwhelmed and even afraid of integrating technologyinto your course? Fear no more! Susan Manning and Kevin Johnsonhave provided the ultimate guide that explains not only the varioustechnology tools that can support faculty work and enhancecoursework but also provides sound advice to help faculty choosethe right tool for the job. This is a must-read for all facultyregardless of their experience with technology."--Rena M.Palloff and Keith Pratt, managing partners, Crossroads ConsultingGroup, and authors, Building Online Learning Communities andCollaborating Online "The Technology Toolbelt for Teaching delivers exactly what itpromises: a concrete overview of a wide variety of tools, completewith examples specific to practitioners in both K-12 andhigher education. Authors Susan Manning and Kevin Johnson providepractical applications rather than philosophy, and solutions ratherthan platitudes. This is a must for any teacher workingwith--or wanting to start workingwith--technology."--Jane Bozarth, author, Social Media forTrainers; eLearning coordinator, State of North Carolina "Creating compelling learning experiences for students isfraught with decision points. Add one or more technology options tothe equation, and the number of directions to take learners seemsto grow limitlessly, and can either paralyze the instructionaldesign process or cause us to take on too much. Enter TheTechnology Toolbelt for Teaching. Manning and Johnson's handy guide- and the decision-making matrix that frames each of the toolsit demystifies - is an essential resource for choosing pathswisely."--Jonathan Finkelstein, author, Learning in Real Time;founder and executive producer, LearningTimes Includes 50+ fresh and useful technology tools for teaching A decision matrix for choosing and using the right tools Examples for using each tool in higher education andK-12
Universal Design for Distance Education : a Guide for Online Course Development by
Chapter 1. Universal Design for Distance Education: A Framework for Delivering Online Courses / LaRon Scott and Colleen A. Thoma -- Chapter 2. Introduction to Distance Education / W. Monty Jones and Brianne Moore-Adams -- Chapter 3. Introduction to Universal Design for Learning / Christina Bartholomew and Brittany Irving -- Chapter 4. Multiple Means of Representation in Distance Education / K. Alisa Lawrey, Sean J. Smith, and Jobina Khoo -- Chapter 5. Multiple Means of Expression / Kimberly Coy -- Chapter 6. Student Engagement in Online and Distance Learning / Monica L. Simonsen, Mary E. Morningstar, and Jingrong Xie -- Chapter 7. Universal Design through Openly Networked Connected Learning / Laura Gogia and Jonathan Becker -- Chapter 8. Template for Universal Design for Learning Distance Education Courses / LaRon Scott, Peter Temple, and Colleen A. Thoma.