Institute/Session Summary:

Summary and Purpose of the Presentation:

Have you been thinking about teaching online, or are you just starting to develop and teach online courses? This practical session is for you. The purpose of this session is to provide tips, techniques, models, and exercises that can be used to help the conscientious teacher design, organize, and teach successfully in an online format. Information from research, experience, and participant input will be integrated throughout the presentation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify the most important characteristics of a successful online course, according to published research.
2. Participants will collect tips, techniques, and examples of course organization and management, lessons, and activities that they can use as models for their own courses.
3. Participants will leave with specific samples and ideas that can be integrated immediately into their existing or developing courses.

Significance to the Field:

Online education has grown at an almost exponential rate each year for most than 10 years. All aspects of college instruction are being affected by this alternative delivery method. Busy adults are interested in advancing in their jobs, even though they are also working full-time, have families, and many other responsibilities to juggle. Effective online instruction is a viable option for their lives. Learning what is working and what should not be done in the development and delivery of online and hybrid or blended courses is a topic that many instructors must include in their own practice.

Relevance to CRLA Members and other conference attendees:

There is an increasing push for teachers in all subject areas to put some or all of their course content online. This presentation is of particular interest to CRLA members in the Technology and Distance Learning SIG, or any attendee who may be a new online instructor, or considering online instruction. The Tech/DL wiki “Online Teaching and Learning” will be used as a focus of instruction and collaboration.

Description:

Many new online teachers often find themselves struggling with the same issues of course design, effective presentation of material, and creating community, with surprisingly little concrete help. The objectives of this session are to provide instructors with specific tips, techniques, models, and resources for getting started in online teaching that addresses these specific questions and more. The presenters will use an actual online course shell, plus the CRLA’s Technology and Distance Learning wiki “Online Teaching and Learning” to model and discuss what research shows are specific aspects of successful online classes.

Outline of the Content:

1. How To Welcome/Orient Your Class
2. How To Create Clear Course Navigation and Course Structure/Layout
3. How To Create a Strong Learning Community
4. Transitioning Curriculum from F2F to Online Delivery
5. Finding Your Virtual Voice or, How To Keep Your Own Dynamic Teaching Style While Online

Presenter1 Name: Julie Hutchin
Presenter1 Institution: Clark College
Presenter1 Bio: Julie Hutchin, DVED/ESL/GED Faculty for 15 years; currently at Clark College and Mt. Hood Community College, designing and teaching online and face-to-face classes.

Presenter2 Name: Kathy Chatfield
Presenter2 Institution: Kathy Chatfield
Presenter2 Bio: Kathy Chatfield, Instructional Designer/BTEC Faculty for 18 years; currently at Clark College and Oregon State University teaching faculty as well as designing and teaching online and face-to-face classes.