Small Teaching Online Part 3 Videos

Provide multiple topics and questions in online discussion prompts. Include some that allow students to relater the topic to their personal experience.

Let students sign up for groups based on a topic they want to delve into.  Provide support structures that help groups develop into productive teams as they increase in independence.

Use Specifications Grading to set a high standard for student work. Establish an all-or-nothing grading approach for some elements of your class to help students learn to take responsibility for their efforts  

Use online annotation tools. These will allow students to become co-creators of their own content.

Activate prior knowledge by asking students to take a short pre-test to describe what they know about your subject matter.  Submitting this quiz or assignment releases the rest of the course or module content.

Provide a partial outline or slides for students to print and fill in the missing information.  They can upload a photo of their completed notes and submit as an assignment. 

Assign concept maps to help students see the connections between ideas.  Let them decide whether to create their map online or on paper.  Students submit a link to an online map or a photo of a physical one. 

Assign PLNs. Help students see the importance of cultivating a web of people and sources of knowledge to direct and expand their own learning moving forward. 

Take an online class, be it credit-bearing, personal interest, or professional development.  There's no better way to improve your online teaching practice than to become an online learner. 

Look for models & examples of best practices.  Observe an excellent online class, or request access to showcase online course designs. 

Add complexity after you build confidence with simple techniques.  To avoid burning out in your online teaching, play the long game.  Make one small change, mater it, try something more adventurous next semester. 

Seek quality certification for your online course design, and if possible your online teaching.  Commit to your personal continuous improvement by striving to meet quality standards in your online course.