This course is for first-time online instructors. The goal of the Online Pedagogy MOOC is to provide a three-week participatory workshop covering online pedagogy and educational strategies for those who will be teaching online for the first time. By participating in the Online Pedagogy MOOC, faculty will actively exchange and apply information and ideas concerning online course design and pedagogy. The result will be a better designed and more effective online course – one that is more enjoyable for both you and your students.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this MOOC, you will be able to:

Identify the key elements of an online course and online learning
Describe the characteristics of an effective online learning environment
Create an effective online syllabus
Select appropriate instructional strategies for your online course by identifying a variety of online instructional strategies to promote understanding of content, development of critical thinking skills, and communication and collaboration in the online environment.
Understand how and develop the ways in which interactivity engages students online
Create an interactive lesson plan for a particular concept or module for your online course
Identify the characteristics of a successful online instructor
Identify several practical tips and techniques to facilitate online learning, and then apply the techniques to create a learner-centered environment
Describe student and faculty roles and responsibilities in groups and identify strategies that prepare groups for success
Explain the role of tone in the online learning environment and apply appropriate tone in online classroom exchanges to avoid miscommunication
Apply classroom management techniques in the cyberspace classroom.
Identify the rules of netiquette (network etiquette) that can be applied to the online learning environment
Describe when, where, how and how often you will give feedback to your online students for a particular concept or module in your online course
Learn how to determine appropriate online assessments for your learning objectives, and then create an assessment for a concept or module in your online course

Course Materials:

In addition to the course materials which are organized to be accessed on a daily basis, it is recommended that the following books are used as additional resources. Books are something that we faculty still relate to and having them for reference makes good sense.

Strongly recommended

Ko, S. & Rossen, S. (2010) Teaching Online: A Practical Guide. New York, NY, Routledge and Tarylor. (Please note that this book is regularly referred to throughout the course, so of all the books, this is the most important resource for you and the one to get if you don't mind spending the money even though this course is free).

Also recommended

Bender, T. (2003) Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment. Stylus Publishing, LLC, Sterling, VA.
Collison, G., Elbaum, B., Haavind, S., & Tinker R. (2000). Facilitating online learning: Effective strategies for moderators. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing.
Hanna, D. E., Glowacki-Dudka, M., & Conceicao-Runlee, S. (2000). 147 Practical tips for teaching online groups: Essentials of web-based education. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing.
Palloff, R. & Pratt, K. (2007). Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom. John Wiley & Sons.
Salmon, G. (2000) E-moderating: The key to teaching and learning online. London: Kogan Page Limited.

Course structure

Other pedagogical information is reached through the Modules and organized by the type of information these daily pages contain. Read through the daily information first before going to the Discussion button and begin doing the discussion forum assignments. Each daily page leads into the next one. There are 5 days in each of the three weeks for a total of 15 days that I expect you to be active in this course. it takes about an hour per day (Monday through Friday) with rest and relaxation on the weekends (or catch-up) if you need it.

This will take you to the Course Information Page that contains the full Syllabus and all necessary information concerning this course. You can read it on this page, or link directly to the Syllabus by clicking on the Syllabus button on the Navigation panel on the left. There, you will also be able to find the Calendar. Your students need YOU to become an active, involved and motivated online instructor. So, click on the cloud (image) above to get started!