Part 1: Planning How To Teach Online

How do I plan for teaching online?

Recommended time: 25 minutes + planning activities

Listen [0:53]

Introduction-Part1.mp3

Introduction

Moving a course online for the first time can cause anxiety for even the most experienced face-to-face instructor, but this process doesn't have to be painful. You very likely have a good start with your existing course materials and we want you to use as many of those as possible, rather than trying to "reinvent the wheel."

This workshop will guide you through a planning process that asks you to reflect on the materials from your existing course and consider what you can keep, change, or abandon/replace and then presents you with a simple online course planning template that you can use to re-organize your course for an online format. As you move through the rest of the workshop materials, you'll likely decide that you want to add some other things to your online course as well.

Remember that you are in control and get to make your own decisions about how you teach. Just keep your expectations realistic (of both yourself and your students), and reach out for help when you feel stuck; many supports are available!

You can do this.

Kim

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify common differences between face-to-face and online courses.
Describe the characteristics of a good online course.
Identify the moving online planning steps.
Identify the recommended online course planning template and checklist.
Discuss the pros and cons of synchronous and asynchronous communication tools.
Identify several ways to re-work lectures from your face-to-face class.
Discuss some considerations for course organization.

Activity

Start the course and assessment plans in the course planning template.

Workshop Videos

The videos in this section were created with the intention that you progress through all of them, in order.
If you prefer to read this content, the slides were created with that in mind, and can be found in the resource section.
You can make videos full screen by clicking the full screen icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the video.

1.1.mp4

Video 1 - Making Decisions About Your Online Course [6:37] (Watch with captions)

1.2.mp4

Video 2 - An Example: Considering Online Lectures [6:42] (Watch with captions)

1.3.mp4

Video 3 - Starting The Online Course Planning Process [7:55] (Watch with captions)

Quick Tips

With your learning objectives in mind, reduce your content as much as you can.
Re-think assessments to minimize your marking.
Keep your expectations realistic.
Don't try to directly replicate your f2f class in live online sessions.
Follow the planning steps and decide what to keep, change, and abandon or replace from the face-to-face version of your course.
Re-think delivering lectures mindfully.
Consider using existing online videos.
Use synchronous communication sparingly.
Set up accountability structures for readings/videos where appropriate.
Use the course planning template and checklist.
Keep it simple and don't try to reinvent the wheel.

Resources

Course Planning Resources

Screencast Video Recording Tools

Screencast-o-matic (Free up to 15 minutes)
Kaltura Capture Space (Free)
Blackboard Collaborate (Free)
Information on closed captioning is posted the Learning Activities section (Part 4)

Live Synchronous Session Tools

For help deciding between or using any of these tools, please contact teaching@macewan.ca and we will triage you to appropriate supports.

General Blackboard Support

Adding Digital Readings

While you can continue to use your regular textbook when you teach online, you may want to add other digital readings and resources.