Top Ten eLearning Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Top Ten eLearning Mistakes Teachers Make & How to Avoid Them

Greg Williams, Ed.D.

www.umbc.edu/isd

Greg Williams, Ed.D.

Director & Assistant ProfessorUMBCwww.gregwilliams.net

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Unclear Objectives1. Unclear Objectives

Problems With Objectives

• Why have them?• Can be hard to measure• No-no words• Map to course content

ABCD Method

A = Audience

B = Behavior

C = Condition

D = Degree

Poor Instructional Objective

At the end of this course, students will know how to be better typists

2. Poor Assessment

Poor Assessment

• Pre-course assessment • Knowledge, skills• Learning preferences• Online class candidate?

Poor Assessment

• Do not assess at all or properly• Assessing the wrong things• Periodic & variety of assessment• Rubrics, e.g. Sister Veronica’s

grading

3. Poor Course Site Navigation

Poor Course Navigation

• Implications• Simple is good• Start slow• Course Tour• Scavenger Hunt

Poor Course Navigation

• Consistent with syllabus• Help for “lost” students• Three before me• Examples

Greg’s Online Communication Assumption

I can take a few days off

and not check in online

Communications Issues4. Communication Issues

Communication Issues

• It’s a new world (every day)• Easy to mis-communicate online• Think, and then think again• Set expectations

Communication Issues

• Keep it simple• Clarify and confirm• Using the phone is OK

Online Course Example

I can take a few days off

and not check in online

Don’t Leave Communication to Chance

5. Inadequate Feedback

Inadequate Feedback

• Takes variety of forms• Establish guidelines• Establish timeframes• Meaningful & specific

Inadequate Feedback

• What does success look like?• Link feedback to rubrics• Sister Veronica’s grading

6. Poor Materials & Resources

No “Page Turners”

Poor Instructional Materials

• Don’t match objectives• Appropriate for online delivery• Provide supporting materials• Include additional resources, links

Poor Instructional Materials

• Variety of instructional strategies• Use familiar technology (YouTube)• A website is not a course

ENDSame Content – Different Reactions

END7. No Learner Interaction

Learner Motivation?

No progresswithout

mistakes

No Learner Interaction

• Tap student experience & expertise• Activities to link w/ objectives• Foster connections between students• Consider some groups projects

Activities

No Learner InteractionVariety & Choice

8. Improper Use of

Technology

Infatuated with Technology

ENDHate the Technology

END

Variety of Choices

Use Familiar Technology

What’s Next?

Learning Tools

Jane Hart’sCentre for Learning

& Performance Technologies

http://c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/

9. No Learner Support

No Learner Support

• Instructional & technical• Troubleshooting help• Online Resources (library, tutorials)• Tools supported by IT• Link to school’s academic support

No Learner Support

• Teacher, school, students• FAQs• Link to school’s support• Three before me

10. No Planning for Predictable Problems

Typical Issues

• Communication• Participation• Students “missing in action”• Course Expectations• Technical• Grading & late policies

Possible Solutions

• Clear syllabus• Course tour• Three before me• Start slow• Back-up Plan (PC Access)• Use FAQs

Final Thoughts

• eLearning not going away• Not for everyone• Be open to possibilities• Experiment• Nut and bolts are easy• Future career opportunities

Maryland Online“Quality Matters”

Initiative

Greg Williams, Ed.D.

Director & Associate ProfessorUMBCwww.gregwilliams.netgregw@umbc.edu