By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranInstructors attempting to address students’ workload and tasks from within a course alone can be challenging. While features like activity completion, due dates, and access... |Communication, Course Design
By Jill AndersonPlanning an assignment or project to be completed by a group of students can raise lots of questions and concerns for an instructor: How should... |Communication
By Dajha Kenya HoustonCourse introductions provide instructors with the first opportunity to connect with their students on a personal level. Traditional methods often fell short in fostering meaningful... |Communication
By Jill AndersonInteractions between students are a valuable part of online learning. Multiple studies (see Liu et al (2024) and Azizan et al (2023) for examples) have... |Academic Technology, Communication
By Jill AndersonYellowdig is an online discussion platform that puts students in the driver’s seat. It’s design is based on the Community of Inquiry framework, which highlights... |Communication
By Ms Kerri Brown ParkerIt’s important to have a conversation with students regarding how you expect them to use (or not use) AI tools in your course. The guidance... |Communication, Course Design
By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranProviding online learning expectations will clearly communicate your expectations for behavior and participation in your online course. An online learning expectations document describes what is... |Communication, Course Design
By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranA clear and complete syllabus for your online course is the most important document you can provide for your students. This syllabus template provides example... |Communication, Course Design
By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranSending a welcome letter that gives students necessary information and resources to get started, to students before class begins will help build a sense of... |Communication, Course Design
By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranProviding a course overview can help your students orient themselves to your course and connect with you as an instructor. A course overview provides details... |Academic Technology, Assessment, Communication
By Ms Kerri Brown ParkerPerusall is a text-based social annotation/commenting/discussion tool. Instructors provide students with a text, and students use commenting to have an asynchronous discussion about the text.... |Communication
By Jill AndersonMid-semester is a great time to check in with your students in order to make any adjustments or course corrections based on feedback from them.... |Academic Technology, Communication
By Ms Kerri Brown ParkerWhiteboarding is a well-established active learning practice used in many classrooms. Students and instructors can use in-classroom whiteboards to brainstorm, create connections between ideas, draw... |Academic Technology, Communication
By Yiling ChappelowA good relationship between instructors and learners is important for learners’ emotional engagement and success (Fanshawe et al, 2020). Central to the quality of that... |Academic Technology, Communication, Course Design
By Jill AndersonStudents must engage in their courses in order to learn. But what, exactly, do we mean by “student engagement?” And what teaching practices and strategies... |Communication
By Jill AndersonFor all its advantages, sometimes “online learning can be a lonely experience” (Kaufmann & Vallade, 2020). Building community in an online course can combat this... |Academic Technology, Communication
By Jill AndersonWhen teaching synchronously on Zoom, hosts and co-hosts can use the Breakout Room tool to divide students into smaller meeting spaces for group work. Activities... |Communication, Course Design
By Arlene Joanna Mendoza-MoranFirst impressions make a big difference in the online classroom. How can you ensure that your online learners feel welcome in the class and that... |Academic Technology, Communication
By Jill AndersonHow can you promote active learning and help keep your students engaged during your course meeting in Zoom? What tools are available? How do you... |Communication
By Yiling ChappelowCommunication is critical in any course. Students benefit greatly from regular interactions with instructors and other students. Establish your instructor presence in an online environment... |Academic Technology, Assessment, Communication
By Jill AndersonGreat teachers understand that learning is a conversation, not a monologue. Real-time assessments and check-ins spark conversation with your students, preventing your class from being... |Assessment, Communication
By Jennifer TagsoldInstructor and peer feedback have a profound effect on the quality of student learning. When teaching online, it is important to foster both learner-instructor interaction... |Communication
By Jakia Khan SalamNetiquette is the term used to describe the special set of rules for online communication. Because students in the online learning environment are unable to... |Communication
By Jakia Khan SalamDiscussion Forums can play a key role in online learning. When used effectively, they can provide many learning benefits including: enhanced critical thinking, more thoughtful...