Margaret FraiserUW-Milwaukee

Challenges and Strategies for Teaching Online

Courses

Online Courses – What are they?

Online Courses: 100% of classroom time replaced by online assignments and activities.

Blended Courses: ≥20% of classroom time replaced by online assignments and activities.

Online Courses – What are the benefits?

Students can learn anywhere at any time.

Multimedia.Bridges geographical distances.Faster, cheaper than traditional

learning.Flexibility.Responds to different learning

techniques.Increased access.

Online Courses – What are the drawbacks?

Students must be self-starters.Sense of isolation.Health-related concerns.Can you think of others?

Online Courses – Why are they significant?

Becoming a prominent mode of programming and delivery in education.

E-learning will be the norm.

Online Courses – Can geosciences be taught online?

YES!Think about:

Digital content.Assessment.Interactivity.

What course(s) do you think would work well as an online class?

How do I:Deliver content?Find context?Make sure they ‘get it’?Keep students engaged?Provide structure and flexibility?

Online Courses – Where to start?

Online Courses – Start with your objectives

Upon completion of the course, it is expected that learners will be able to:Conduct a literature review.Analyze data.Identify minerals.

What are the objectives for your course(s)?

Online Courses – Create activitiesBuild assignments that encourage

students to engage with course content.

Include detailed instructions, clear deadlines and expectations.

Examples:QuizzesIndividual reflectionsDiscussion posts (questions and

responses)What sorts of activities would be

best for your course?

Online Courses – AssessmentUse tools that provide frequent, low

stakes numerical and narrative feedback.

Aim at assessing performance, indicating areas for improvement.

What methods of assessment would you like to use?

Online Courses – What types of digital content can you use?

Create of find rich and interactive media, video clips, audio clips, animations, etc.

Establish instructor presence.What types of content would work for

your course?

Online Courses-Further information

http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online/index.html