When Teachers Become Students: Helping Navigate the Online Jungle Marcy Satterwhite, Business Instructor Shannon Phillips, English Instructor and Academic Technology Coordinator

Background Teaching in the Online Environment  One-credit hour course (pending)  Designed to prepare instructors to teach an online course  Build their course as they take this course  This course models the online student experience for the teacher

WebCT Environment

Modules Preface:Requirements to Develop an Online Course at Lake Land College Module 1: Introduction, Getting Started, Navigation of the Course Module 2: Organizing your Course Module 3:Technology Options, Available Resources Module 4:Course Content Module 5:Assessing Student Learning Module 6:Communicating with students Module 7:Course Management (due dates/calendar) Module 8:Evaluating your finished online course

Preface Requirements to Develop an Online Course at Lake Land College  Necessary Forms  Description of the Approval Process  Online Course Past Practices at Lake Land College (items not in the contract) Pay Pay Course Ownership Course Ownership Class Size Class Size

Module 1: Introduction to Online Courses  What is an Online Course?  Why Teach Courses Online?  What Are the Time Requirements to Develop an Online Course?  What Are the Time Requirements During the Semester?  What Areas of Concern Regarding Online Courses Should I Be Aware Of? Academic Honesty Academic Honesty School Technology Problems School Technology Problems Student Technology Problems Student Technology Problems Student Excuses and Procrastination Student Excuses and Procrastination Communication Issues Communication Issues  Getting Started with Development

Module 2: Organizing the Course  Chapters, Units, or Learning Modules  Be consistent with the Layout and Structure  Explain assignments and requirements clearly Home SyllabusCalendarAssignments Module 1Module 2Module 3 Online Help Desk  Map out a Plan

Module 3: Technology Options, Available Resources Technology (What’s available?) 1) Web pages HTML, FrontPage, Dreamweaver HTML, FrontPage, Dreamweaver 2) Course Management Programs WebCT, WebBoard, Blackboard WebCT, WebBoard, Blackboard 3) Audio and Video Tegrity, PowerPoint with Audio, Digitized Video, RealAudio and Video Tegrity, PowerPoint with Audio, Digitized Video, RealAudio and Video

Module 3: Technology Options, Available Resources (cont.) People 1) Online Help Desk Instructor and Student Instructor and Student 2) Mentor Veteran Online Instructors (within and outside of discipline) Veteran Online Instructors (within and outside of discipline) 3) Informational Services and Systems (Techie Heads)

Module 3: Technology Options, Available Resources (cont.) Potential Technology Problems 1) Browsers: Test the pages in multiple browser versions (IE, Netscape, Home Page Reader) 2) Audio and Video: Provide on a CD-ROM to avoid lengthy download 3) Backup the finished course: You never know when the server will go down!

Module 4:Course Content Required Pages (LLC Suggestions)  Welcome Letter  Syllabus  Units/Chapters/Modules (course outline) Learning Objectives, Overview, Assignments Learning Objectives, Overview, Assignments  Calendar  Grades  Instructor Information  Online Help Desk  LLC Important Dates

Module 4: Course Content (cont.) Structuring Content 1) Keep Consistent 2) Keep it short and to the point! (1-1/2 to 2 pages of scrolling maximum) 3) “Chunk” the Material Learning Objects Learning Objects Learning Objects Learning Objects 4) Alternative Delivery Methods PowerPoint, Tegrity, Audio, Video, Flash PowerPoint, Tegrity, Audio, Video, FlashTegrity

Module 5: Assessing Student Learning What is the purpose of assessment?  To find out if the student understands the concepts presented in the course and/or allow the student to demonstrate their ability.

Module 5: Assessing Student Learning (cont.) Accomplishing Assessment 1) Wide Variety of Techniques 2) Guidelines and Rubrics 3) Well Designed/Defined Assignments 4) Set Specific Guidelines (e.g., 12 point font, 1” margins, word processing programs, MLA Tutorial) MLA TutorialMLA Tutorial

Discussion Board Structure

Wide Variety of Techniques  Discussion Questions  Chat  Review Questions/Terms/Chapter Outlines  Group Work  Journals  Surveys/Quizzes/Exams  Papers and Essays  Simulations  Web Quests  Hands-On/Face-to-Face Activities

Problems/Concerns with Online Assessment Academic Honesty Plagiarism Plagiarism Cheating on Quizzes and Exams Cheating on Quizzes and Exams Paying another student/person to take course or write paper Paying another student/person to take course or write paper

Instructor Time Involvement More written work to grade 1) Set specific guidelines 2) Set Due Dates and Times to Collect and Grade Assignments 3) Create a Rubric 4) Copy-n-Paste Commonly Offered Feedback (i.e., create a template document of generic messages with assignment feedback) 5) FAQ on Discussion Board

Module 6: Communicating with Students 1) First Contact (Aids in Retention) 2) Regular Reminders (Aids in Retention) 3) Backup Communication 4) Timely Feedback on Questions/Submitted Assignments 5) Descriptive Comments and Suggestions on Graded Assignments

Module 7: Course Management (Avoiding Burnout/Jungle Fatigue) Due Dates  First Due Date (Allow Plenty of Time to Get Books, Add, Drop)  Spread Out Assignments Regular Schedule on Regular Days (M/R Schedule) Regular Schedule on Regular Days (M/R Schedule) Twice a Week Twice a Week

Due Date Issues 1) How strict should I be with due dates? Be consistent! Be consistent! Late Work? Late Work? 2) Inaccurate Time Stamps Time Zones Time Zones Avoid midnight due dates (11:55 p.m.) Avoid midnight due dates (11:55 p.m.)

Set Boundaries: Place these Guidelines in the Syllabus! 1) 1) Schedule Online Class Time 2) 2) Can the students call you at home about class? If so, how late can they call? 3) 3) Will you respond to class s in the evenings and/or on the weekends? 4) 4) How soon will you respond to student questions? 5) 5) How soon will you return graded assignments? 6) 6) What happens if the school server is down? 7) 7) Will you accept assignments late? If so, what is the penalty?

Module 8: Evaluating the Finished Online Course  Is the Course Syllabus included?  Is there a Welcome Letter included?  Is it clear what the students need to do to get started?  Is the course easy to navigate?  Do all of the links to various pages appear to work properly?  Are your assignment directions clear and easy to understand?  Are the due dates for each assignment clearly laid out?  What types of discussion are used in the course?  Do the students know where to go for help?

Contact Information Marcy Satterwhite, Business Instructor Shannon Phillips, English Instructor and Academic Technology Coordinator