Whether you're a seasoned online instructor or finding yourself navigating the digital realm for the first time, we're here to make your journey smoother. This article serves as your go-to guide, merging practical tips with comprehensive checklists to ensure your online teaching experience is not only efficient but also engaging and student-focused.
This article covers the following topics:
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Canvas , the universitys Learning Management System, course design and layout play a crucial role in creating an engaging and effective learning environment. A well-designed course helps students navigate the content easily, stay organized, and access the materials they need to succeed. Elements of a well-designed course include:
- content organized in modules
- a logical and consistent layout
- a course introduction
- an easy-to-find syllabus with course policies
Student learning outcomes (SLOs) are key to helping students, teachers, and institutions create successful learning experiences. By setting clear and measurable goals, learning outcomes ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the course. When drafting your SLOs, keep the following in mind:
- There should be alignment between content, learning activities, unit/week objectives and course level outcomes.
In an online course, content forms the intellectual foundation, activities bridge theory with practice, and interaction fosters a vibrant learning community.
The following are things to keep in mind:
Activities help translate knowledge into skills, and interaction creates the virtual collaborative environment. Setting clear expectations will help ensure student success. Examples of these include:
- expectations for student-student interaction
- participation, response, and feedback expectations
- clear assignment instructions and due dates
Faculty Substantive Interaction Guidelines for Online Courses are guidelines for making sure your online class provides sufficient interaction.
Together, these principles create a foundation for an impactful online educational experience where students can thrive with confidence and purpose. You can create a sense of community through online discussions, announcements, feedback, and support. Below are some examples of how you can accomplish this.
Course Online Discussions:
Live and Recorded Instruction:
Diversify your instruction with
Student Communication: Stay connected! Whether synchronous or asynchronous, communication is key:
- Use Canvas announcements for updates.
- Send messages through the Canvas Inbox.
- Hold virtual office hours using Zoom.
- Set up an appointment Calendarso students can find time to meet with you
Quality instruction starts with proper equipment. Ensure your computer, webcam, microphone, and internet access meet standards, which students are also required to follow. If not, reach out to your department and OIT for solutions.
Deepen your online teaching knowledge with these resources:
The Instructional Technology team is here to help you with any of the following:
- Help setting up your course in Canvas or using one of our other academic tools
- Help designing your technology-enhanced course or assignment, whether it's face-to-face, hybrid/blended, low-residency or online
- A workspace and a hub for course and assignment creation, staffed with instructional designers
- A digital media space for both students and faculty, staffed with multimedia designers and equipped with rooms for audio and video production
- Training resources for multimedia tools
- Assistance in designing a class for active learning.
Remember, you're not alone in this journey. If you have questions or need support, email us at support@stedwards.edu.
Thank you for your dedication to quality education in any setting. Together, we'll make online teaching a success!