Establishing Guidelines
Why Guidelines Are Key
It is extremely important to begin the class with clear guidelines for acceptable participation. These guidelines are generally presented along with the syllabus and course outline as a means of creating some structure around the course. In addition, the guidelines can be used as a first discussion item. We have learned the hard way that if clear participation guidelines are not established, the course does not go well. --Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2007). Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Orientation to Online Learning: Myths and Facts
In establishing guidelines for your course, it may help students to understand what online learning is and isn't. This video from Chabot College provides clarity in this area.
This article by Oliver Dreon, Ph.D. at Online Learning Consortium presents the idea of students using checklists to help them stay on track with course expectations.
GCC Online Course Expectations.pdfGuidelines Example
This PDF is a document used by SUNY Genesee Community College
This blog post by Tammy Matthews at ValuEd speaks specifically to guidelines for your course's discussion forum.
This blog post by TeacherRogers of Instructional Design is a basic list of expectations that can be the good basis for guidelines you might post in a syllabus.
Best Practices for Teaching Online
An Infographic from Arizona State University
