1. Setting up and running a successful online language course IATEFL – Liverpool 2013Fiona Thomas

2. Project Setting up and running an online language course

3. Project Manager PlanningRunningClosing

4. Successful online language course THE CLIENT THE TUTOR THE MATERIALS Understanding and managing 3 components:

5. THE CLIENT – National / Regional cultural influences Geert Hofstede defines national culture as “those things that are shared by people who grew up in the same forest”. @sandymillin ELTpics

6. http://geert-hofstede.com/spain.html Suggests the need for a highly structured course with lots of support High power distance vs Lower power distance Individualism vs Collectivism Uncertainty avoidance Masculinity vs Femininity THE CLIENT – National / Regional cultural influences

7. THE CLIENT – Institutional / Corporate culture 1.What are the training manager’s expectations? 2.How much experience does the training manager have in organising online courses? 3.How does this affect the students and their expectations?

8. 2. THE MATERIALS

9. THE MATERIALS Understand the design and rationale behind the online materials Understand how long it will take the students to work through the material How will you track the students’ progress on the course material? How is the students’ progress assessed?

10. 3. THE TUTOR Define the tutor’s role (job description and person specification) Organise a comprehensive training programme

11. 3. THE TUTOR The role of the tutor will depend on the materials you use. 1.Help students with writing and speaking skills by providing feedback, moderating, answering questions and giving remedial support 2.Track progress, provide support and encouragement 3.Create course content, deliver course content in groups or 1-to-1

12. Successful online language course THE CLIENT THE TUTOR THE MATERIALS SUPPORT

13. Support for clients Pre-course Face-to-face presentations or webinars Information documents

14. Support for clients During the course – help documents SUPPORT

15. Support for clients During the course Tracking and support – in L1 if possible at low levels (email and telephone / skype) Dedicated helplines Technical support Reminders of deadlines Reports and action points to Training Manager

16. SUPPORT Support for tutors Tutor manuals Clear guidelines Support for issues e.g. difficult students, problem tutorials, other incidents Reminders of deadlines

17. Successful online language course THE CLIENT THE TUTOR THE MATERIALS SUPPORT FEEDBACK MATERIALS PROVIDER

18. Successful online language course THE CLIENT THE TUTOR THE MATERIALS Project Manager

19. Fiona Thomas fiona@netlanguages.com Twitter: @FionaTT Blog: http://fionacthomas.wordpress.com IATEFL - Liverpool 2013 CONTACT DETAILS References www.netlanguages.com http://geert-hofstede.com http://vimeo.com/29036835