Best Practices for Teaching Online

From The Online Teaching Survival Guide by Judith V. Boettcher and Rita-Marie Conrad.

1: Be Present at Your Course

• Do an initial check-in with each student and follow-up as needed.
• host digital “office hours.”

2: Create a Supportive Online Course Community

• create a discussion forum for students to share their questions, thoughts, and discoveries.
• host a live lecture or discussion session (zoom, skype etc.)
• learning partner

3: Develop a Set of Explicit Workload and Communication Expectations for Your Learners and Yourself.

• create an orientation video or interactive document that goes over communication and course expectations.
• cover this in initial check-in.

4: Use a Variety of Large Group, Small Group, and Individual Work Experiences

• Individual; journal reflections – course content, readings etc.
• Small Group; a paired project or assignment, for a marketing course this could be a social media campaign (or something creative).
• Large group; discussions, live sessions with group questions. Big Blue Button allows you to do break-out sessions with 2-5 people per group.

5: Use Synchronous and Asynchronous Activities

• Asynchronous; discussions forums, quizzes, journal reflections, course content, recorded videos.
• Synchronous; group brainstorming (live break-out sessions, mural brainstorming tool, live mini presentations.

6: Ask for Informal Feedback Early in the Term

• quick part-way survey or discussion post (pros, cons, challenges etc.)

7: Prepare Discussion Posts that Invite Responses, Questions, Discussions, and Reflections

• encourage reflection and critical responses to readings
• create room for debate
• ask students to relate topic to their experience(s)

8: Think Digital for All Course Content

• Transition static documents to an interactive format (glossary, audio and video resources.
• Build games, encourage discussions, make videos.

9: Combine Core Concept Learning with Customized and Personal Learning

• flexible and creative projects. This could be a website, online portfolio, social media campaign or site.
• options for mixed media – video, website, text.
• combine traditional and innovative learning delivery.

10: Plan a Good Closing and Wrap Activity for the Course

• present or share creative project.

Additional Best Practices:

11: Assess as You Go by Gathering Evidences of Learning

12: Rigorously Connect Content to Core Concepts and Learning Outcomes

13: Develop and Use a Content Frame for the Course

14: Design Experiences to Help Learners Make Progress on Their Novice-to-Expert Journey