Developer Tips


  1. Know Yourself
  2. Determine Your Philosophy of Teaching and Learning
    Teacher-centered
    Learner-centered
    Learning community-centered
    Technology-driven
  3. Be a Team Player Instructor
    Coordinator
    Learner liaison
    Instructional designer
    Graphic designer
    Technology personnel
    Resource personnel
    Administrative personnel
  4. Learn New Skills for Teaching Online
  5. Understand Your Audience
  6. Understand the Online Environment
  7. Learn about the Technology
  8. Learn about Your Resources
  9. Recognize the Absence of Physical Presence
  10. Create Multiple Spaces for Work, Interaction, and Socializing
  11. Include Multiple Types of Interactions
  12. Consider Which Interactions to Include
  13. Consider Learner-to-Teacher Interaction
  14. Consider Learner-to-Learner Interaction
  15. Learner-to-Expert Interaction
  16. Learner-to-Content Interaction
  17. Learner-to-Technology Interaction
  18. Establish the Preferred Class Size
  19. Consider Team-Based Learning
  20. Form Personal Relationships Online
  21. Develop Learning Communities
  22. Learn through Dialogue
  23. Be Prepared and Flexible
  24. Define Your Role in the Online Classroom
  25. Clarify Your Expectations of Learners' Roles
  26. Expect Learners to Be Present Online and to Avoid Passively Observing
  27. Expect Learners to Create, Share, and Hold Knowledge and Experiences
  28. Expect Learners to Be Self-Motivated and Self-Directed
  29. Expect Learners to Manage Their Time Effectively
  30. Expect Learners to Be Ready to Learn
  31. Expect Learners to Troubleshoot Problems
  32. Expect Learners to Contribute to the Class Discussions
  33. Expect Learners to Teach Others and Facilitate the Experience
  34. Expect Learners to Act as Collegial Members of the Class
  35. Expect Learners to Review Readings and Materials Thoughtfully and Reflectively
  36. Expect Learners to Provide Timely, Meaningful Feedback to You and Their Fellow Learners
  37. Expect Learners to Be Leaders
  38. Expect Learners to Listen to Others
  39. Expect Learners to Communicate by Addressing Each Other, Not Just You
  40. Expect Learners to Be Proactive
  41. Expect Learners to Observe the Process
  42. Establish a Contingency Plan

    Myths and Constraints of Online Teaching and Learning

    Myths of Online Teaching and Learning
  43. Myth: Learners Are Unable to Adapt to the Online Environment
  44. Myth: The Instructor Has to Know How to Do Everything
  45. Myth: Time Requirements for Teachers Are Lower in an Online Environment
  46. Myth: Online Classrooms Aren't Conducive to Group Interaction and Activities
  47. Myth: Online Classrooms Aren't as Social as Face-to-Face Classrooms
  48. Myth: The Number of Learners in Online Classrooms Can Be Unlimited
  49. Myth: Technology Will Always Work
  50. Myth: The Course Will Market Itself; Post It on the Web and They Will Come
  51. Myth: Learners Will Always Understand Your Intended Expectations for Them from Your Clearly Written Syllabus

    Constraints for Interactive Online Teaching and Learning
  52. Constraint: Fear of Technology
  53. Constraint: Different Levels of Technology Skills
  54. Constraint: Literacy Levels
  55. Constraint: Ability to Type and Use the Keyboard
  56. Constraint: Access to a Computer and an Internet Connection
  57. Constraint: The Comfort of Physical Work Space
  58. Constraint: Having a Disability
  59. Constraint: Not Being Able to Correspond in the Language of the Course
  60. Constraint: Reaching across Multiple Time Zones

    Organizing the Online Course

  61. Identify the Course Design
  62. Consider Course Goals and Objectives
  63. Consider Content
  64. Consider Readings
  65. Consider Resources
  66. Copyright Issues
  67. Determine Methods of Delivery
  68. Consider Interactive Applications
  69. Consider Non-Interactive Applications
  70. Give Learners Appropriate Advance Information
  71. Tell Learners about the Computer Hardware and Software They'll Need
  72. Tell Learners about the Level of Computing Proficiency
  73. Tell Learners about the Level of Course Content and the Course's Time Expectations
  74. Decide and Communicate What's Private and What's Public
  75. Develop Course Details
  76. Establish Discussion Guidelines
  77. Develop a Flexible Syllabus
  78. Organize Content into Modules or Units
  79. Create a Timeline
  80. Develop Assignments
  81. Decide about Evaluation Techniques to Use
  82. Evaluate Your Learners
  83. Determine Course Effectiveness

    Strategies for Evaluating Learning


  84. Use Quizzes
  85. Use Essays
  86. Use Portfolios
  87. Use Performance Evaluation
  88. Use Interviews
  89. Use Journals
  90. Use Reflective Papers
  91. Use Web Site Development
  92. Use Learner Participation Figures
  93. Use Peer Assessment
  94. Use Learner Self-Assessment
  95. Consider How You'll Grade Assignments
  96. Develop a Way to Evaluate Group Projects
  97. Develop a Way to Grade Portfolios
  98. Develop a Way to Grade Reflective Papers
  99. Consider Strategies for Course Improvement
  100. Use the One-Minute Assessment
  101. Use a Pretest/Post-test Approach
  103. Use Direct Observation
  104. Ask Learners for Their Reflections
  105. Conduct Peer Reviews
  106. Do a Teacher Preview
  107. Reflect on Your Experiences

    Beginning Instruction in the Online Course: Implementing the Course Design


  108. Create a Space for Learning
  109. Design Strategies for Assessing Learners' Characteristics and Building Learners' Self-Knowledge
  110. Design Strategies to Introduce Learners to Each Other
  111. Use Effective Teaching Strategies
  112. Gain Agreement with the Learners about Rules, Norms, and Procedures for Discussion-and Do So from the Start
  113. Use a Freeflowing and Interactive Content and Structure
  114. Develop Team-Building Activities
  115. Share Biographical Information or Stories
  116. Share Course Assignments
  117. Create a Social Space
  118. Involve Learners in Team Projects
  119. Develop Asynchronous Group Discussions
  120. Develop Challenging Problems
  121. Promote Critical Thinking
  122. Encourage Students to Evaluate Information
  123. Encourage Students to Analyze Information
  124. Encourage Students to Connect Information
  125. Promote Self-Regulating Learning
  126. Build Collaborative Skills
  127. Create a Loose Framework for Exploring Topics
  128. Create Opportunities for Learners to Teach and to Facilitate Discussions
  129. Add Games and Fun Activities into the Learning Mix
  130. Use Existing Software Applications Creatively
  131. Use Case Studies
  132. Use Simulations as Opportunities for Learning by Doing
  133. Use External Communities, People, and Resources to Build Content Knowledge
  134. Create Opportunities for Reflection on the Course, Technology, Content, and Process
  135. Help Your Learners Manage Information
  136. Encourage Substantive Feedback from Learners...Including Yourself
  137. Motivate Your Learners to Participate
  138. Give Learners Roles during Discussions
  139. Make Students Facilitators
  140. Make Students Process Observers
  141. Make Students Information Networkers/Summarizers
  142. Consider Online Office Hours
  143. Take Advantage of Opportunities for Continuous Learning
  144. Read All You Can about Online Learning
  145. Understand That You're Not the Only One Who Feels Overwhelmed Once in a While
  146. Know That Sometime, Someday You'll Struggle with the Technology
  147. Enjoy Yourself!
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