Top 8 Reasons to Teach Online

Reason # 1 Online teaching is more intimate The cornerstone of distance education: M.G. Moore’s distance theory Distance in teaching is determined by pedagogy, not the amount of physical separation. Moore, M.G. (1989). Three types of interaction. The American Journal of Distance Education, 3 (2), 1-6.

Reason # 2 Higher level of communication Amount : Amount : Two minutes per student (in a 50-minute MWF class of 25) vs. No time limit online Quality : Quality : Students online respond because they’ve done the work, not because it’s 10:00 on Wednesday. Opportunity : Opportunity : No dominant students, no time limits to compose thoughts

Reason # 3 Richer learning environment No budget restraints No budget restraints Multiple learning modes Multiple learning modes Multiple senses Multiple senses Multiple cultures Multiple cultures

Reason # 4 More feedback, more revisions, higher expectations A combination of electronic productivity tools (word processing, , web) allows: Nearly instant feedback From multiple sources More sources

Reason # 5 Collaborative Learning Electronic Peer Reviews Web-based Learning Teams The Power of Collaboration A Career Necessity

Reason # 6 More time on task And the research says: The more time spent focused on course-related work, the more and better students learn. s + Web Posts + Asynchronous Discussions Writing + Reading + Class + Chats

Reason # 7 Information literacy The ability to find, select, manipulate, modify, and distribute information A shared responsibility

Reason # 8 To meet student expectations “I wish my teacher used a computer.” Armstrong freshman, September 24, 2004