23 Things for Online Teaching

In general…

1.     Commit to becoming a lifelong learner. As technology and other things evolve… You must evolve, too.

2.     Consider setting up an email address that you will use specific for tools, articles, and other things directly related to online teaching. This will keep you organized and will serve as a bank of resources for online teaching.

3.     Find a way to stay organized using bookmarking tools such as diigo or delicious.

4.     Take a class online. You can learn a lot about how your students’ feel when you become the student.

Social Networking Tools

5.     Join twitter and connect with other professionals and individuals with similar interests. You also want to follow people who may be experts in online teaching.

6.     Use TweetDeck ot TweetChat to participate in twitter chats that take place that are related to your field and profession.

7.     Find ways to incorporate social networking tools in your courses by learning about ways other instructors are using them. Click here to begin your research. 

Course Content

8.     Find videos that can help demonstrate or Explain course content. Try You Tube, Teacher Tube, You Tube forEducators, and other video-sharing sites.

9.      Use Jing as a tool to help students navigate your course and show students things by letting them see your computer while you talk.

10.  Find Podcasts that are relevant to your course and share with students.

11.  Check websites such as Merlot, the National Science DigitalLibrary, and Wisc-Online for Learning Objects that already exist. Another instructor may have already spent time developing a great learning object for content that you may be teaching. Work smarter, not harder.

12.  When you can’t find something that is already available, create your own audio or video content. Search in Google or YouTube for a variety of tutorials, instructional information, and reviews.

13.  If typical Powerpoint is not working for you, try Prezi. This tool allows for much more flexibility when presenting information.

Communication

14.  Decide on the ways you will communicate with students and make that information in a variety of places. The most important thing in an online class is communication because you will not be seeing your students.

15.  Use Skype for conferencing with individual students. It allows for video, audio, and textual communication. You can also send links or files while talking.

16.  Consider Google Apps for collaborative work. Google Docs allows students to collaborate on documents and they can chat while working. Google Huddle also allows for conferencing.

17.  Using conferencing tools such as Illuminate Live or Wimba to “meet” with all your students at once.

18.  Use asynchronous tools such as wikis, blogs, and discussion boards to get students collaborating and working together without the expectation that they all get together at the same time.

19.  If you will use email, let students know how often you will check it and how soon they can expect a reply.

20.  Set up online office hours and use a synchronous communication tool that students can use. Students will then know when they can expect to get in touch with you. You can use AOL Instant Messenger, Skype, Gmail Chat, etc.

Remember…

21.  Without the structure of a face-to-face meeting, students need even more structure and organization. So, make sure you are clear, concise, and organized.

22.   Make sure you are using pedagogy and teaching and learning theories when designing your course. Make sure hat your use of technology tools is intentional and used in a way that will enhance learning.

23.  HAVE FUN!!!