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Examples

Content Review

I am using a modified flipped classroom idea for online teaching.  I present the students with the expectations for the week -- readings, resources, and materials to review -- as well as the outline of assignments and activities that align with the content before the week begins.  I then allow a few days for the student to engage with the materials.  After this time, I post a mini-lecture that summarizes and highlights the important aspects of the content, provide further explaination or examples, and give my perspective on the content.  Based on the literature of adult learning, I try to limit these mini-lectures to under 20 minutes.

Assignment - APA Formatting

I ask my students to write papers throughout the semester. I have found that often they are not written in a scholarly way. After much frustration, I decided to devote some course time teaching how to write an academic paper. I don't pretend I am an expert, I tell my students I learn something new every time, and I realize that APA is often confusing, difficult, and unintuitive.  However, I do expect my students to use APA style. I ask the students to choose 1 or 2 topics (based on class size) and create a one page 'cheat sheet' for reference on how to use the APA rule, as well as a 2-3 minute voice annotated presentation that is posted in the Discussion Board within our course management system that further explains and provides examples of how to properly use APA style.  I had originally intended for the assignment to be more about presenting and gaining information and using this as a resource, my student continue to astound me, in that they encourage each other, ask questions, and build upon the mere information presented.

Rubric - ePortfolio 

As a student myself, I try to design my course in a way in which I would appreciate, understand, and thrive. One of the tools that assist me in knowing the expectations of my learning is a rubric. I include a rubric that closely matches the assignment sheet I give for each assignment. Students know what is expected, what they need to do and how the assignment is assessed.  I provide feedback in the form of scores and values, as well as text suggestions, pointers, and other evaluation.  I also allow for learning from mistakes and encourage students to take the feedback and improve upon their work and knowledge.

Interactivity Example - Blogs

I believe my students should not only learn from me, as the instructor, but also from each other. Forming a learning community, relying upon their fellow classmates, and building peer relationships is all a part of the interactivity I want to see in a class. One way that we do this, especially in the online course, is with blogs. In approximately half of the 12 week schedule I ask the students a prompting question related to the content we are working with and its application in their work environments. I have them answer the question on the blogs that they have set up outside of the course management system. I also require the students to read and respond to one another's posts.  These are very informal and focus on the student and their experiences.  Students are also encouraged to continue using the blogs after the course to document their personal progress.

Reflection and Communication

One of the challenges felt in online teaching is the lack of immediate feedback from students -- "Are they getting it?"  "Are they completely confused?"  I have used a weekly, thematic, or periodic 'Learning Reflection' assignment to elicit this feedback.  This is a private assignment between the student and instructor that allows for honest, personal feedback.  I ask for a short (no more than a page) 'check in.'

 
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