Part of online education is making continuous improvements to the courses. To honor this, we copy courses from term to term instead of keeping a “parent” version of the … [Read more...]
Creating Videos as Static Course Content
Videos are important components of online courses. One of the most common comments on course evaluations is that students appreciate videos—and want even more. One way … [Read more...]
Vetting Learning Materials
Choosing appropriate learning materials are a vital part of any course. Often the course uses a textbook, but increasingly online instructors are turning towards Open … [Read more...]
Providing Flexibility for Students, Especially During Disruptive Times
Many students take online courses because they have obligations — work, family, health, military service — that impact their ability to attend courses on-campus. … [Read more...]
Adding Videos in Canvas
Students and instructors have a few options for how to record videos for their courses. Those options are below, but first let’s cover a few terms to get oriented to our … [Read more...]
TILT Your Assignment Prompts
Students often have difficulty understanding assignment directions, especially in online courses when it is harder to ask clarification questions. It can be hard for the … [Read more...]
Use Small Group Discussions to Connect your Students
Positive social interactions and a feeling of connectedness are basic human needs, even online. Students are conscious of how connected they feel with others in their … [Read more...]
Give Students Some Choice
Allowing students a choice in the topic they want to discuss grants them autonomy in their learning, which can be motivating, improve performance, and provide a more … [Read more...]
Discussion Best Practices
Discussions are a key part in many online courses. If we want students to demonstrate high levels of thinking in discussions, we need to ask questions that are designed … [Read more...]
Forming a More Perfect Rubric
Rubrics are ultimately a communication tool with students that in many forms. They give students a clear picture of what you’re looking for in an assignment and give you … [Read more...]