actionplanparti

In designing an online course, the instructor (facilitator) must determine how they will connect with students and how the students will connect with each other.

My goal is to create an individual course module in D2L designed as an online orientation for students entering my program.

My action plan (part I) is as follows:

Methods of Connecting:

• • Phone call - pre-program enrollment; check to see if the students have accessed email and D2L yet. Walk the student through the process of login for D2L and the components of D2L. Instruct them on opening the "Orientation Module" and completion prior to the start of the program.

  • Online Classroom Rules document - the online classroom rules gives an overview of discussion forum postings and rubric associated with it; timelines for discussion postings; netiquette; Microsoft Word document uses; rules for submitting answer keys to the dropbox; weekly assignment deadlines; quiz directions and information.

  • Instructions - within the course content, the instructor must provide instructions about assignments as well as expectations. I will be posting an introduction to each orientation activity as well as providing examples for them.

  • Discussion Forum - students are advised of the "online classroom rules" of discussion postings and the grading associated with it. Students will be required to post an introduction and reply to others. I will place instructions in course content with an example of an introduction. They will be required to attach a word document which will be their statement of why they wanted to enter the medical dosimetry profession. I will place instructions and a sample in the course content. Responses from other students include asking an additional question about the other students introduction. I will post an example of this as well.

  • Feedback Survey - students will click on a link that will be an end of orientation survey in order to get student feedback. Feedback is delivered to the instructor survey tool. I will design the survey and then provide a link within the orientation course that students will click on for completion.

• E-mail - students are required to send an e-mail to the instructor from their University email account which states that they have completed the online orientation module and ask any additional questions or concerns they may have. The instructor will reply to the e-mail so the student can receive a personal response.

Materials to be prepared:

• • enrollment contact information list

  • online classroom rules document updated

  • discussion forum question/statement

  • introduction and instructions in course content

  • sample introduction attachment document

  • sample peer response information

  • survey of orientation module completion and where to place link

• instructions on practice email to instructor and provide email address

Resources already located:

• • Online classroom rules document

  • Lehmann, K. How to be a great online teacher

  • Palloff, R. & Pratt, K. Building Online Communities in Cyberspace

  • ITS Support 608-785-8774; itssupport@uwlax.edu

• Director of Technology at UW-L

Resources yet to be located:

• • online course orientation materials

• links to online orientation information

Timeline:

• 1. Spring semester 08 (February): complete orientation module framework

  2. Summer semester 08 (May): survey design

  3. Summer 08 (May): Sample introduction and attachment document, peer response sample document

  4. August 1, 08: D2L orientation module completion; student enrollment contact list

1. Mid-August: Implement calls to students