Teaching Online Courses

Whether you teach a face-to-face class, a totally online class or a combination of both it is important to remember that all learning takes place within the student. The purpose of education is to make a change in the learner. This may be the acquisition of knowledge, skills and change in attitude. All courses must have clear measurable objectives. All courses must have a way to assess if objectives are met. No matter what type of course you develop or teach you must begin here.

Once the goals and measurable outcomes are determined, you then need to develop the process and define the learning experiences that a student will encounter. The significant difference between the face-to-face and online setting is in the course delivery method. In a face-to-face setting the material is divided into chunks of time, a certain number of class sessions for a set amount of time. With in this setting a teacher will develop class activities and assignments to fit in this time frame. With the increase of technology in education what goes on in that classroom is rapidly changing. This is no longer the traditional education experience of my parents. But that is a another post altogether.

In an online course setting, the daily time constraint is lifted. Sometimes courses are organized around a weekly approach with students asked to complete readings, assignments, and participate in online discussion on a weekly basis. Other courses can be structure around topics. When one topic is complete the student or class moves onto the next topic. Other classes have no time frame and a student completes the required components at their own pace and are done with the course when they completed the necessary requirements. What format is chosen should be determined by the objectives of the course, but in reality are determined by the institution offering the class.

For many teachers the transition from face-to-face to online instruction will take some time. Each setting requires different methods and strategies. But if you focus on the basics of any good instructional design "what do you want them to know and how will you know when they know it" you will start with a good foundation. All successful courses and learning environments are built on this strong foundation.

The following are some links for more information on designing an online course. Please share your experiences with online learning environments.

Less is More: Designing an Online Course

Designing an Online Course: Brainstorming Ideas

Principles of Online Design

Instructional Strategies for Online Courses