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Top Ten Advice for Online Instructors, From Online Instructors
- Take an Online Course Yourself. By far, this was the leading piece of advice offered by current online instructors. It's a way to get your feet wet and think about what would work for your teaching style and course content.
- Start Using Elements of the Online LMS in Your Classroom Courses. This is one way of gradually getting comfortable with the structure of online courses and the learning management system (LMS) used in your district.
- Talk to Current Online Instructors. Online instructors are three times as likely to recommend online courses to students than those who haven't taught online. Here are some online instructors that students and fellow instructors identified as valuable resources on online teaching.
- Start Small. Start with a course that you're already comfortable with. Choose a course whose topic is conducive to teaching online. Start with just one online course until you get used to it.
- Focus on Desired Outcomes when Developing Your Online Curriculum. Developing an online curriculum will require you to define what students really need to learn - what is at the very core of your content. The rest follows.
- Look for Textbooks that Offer Online Course Cartridges. Especially for new online instructors, this tool can help identify new non-traditional content related to your course.
- Articulate Course Requirements. Online instructors emphasize how important it is to be very clear on assignments and how they will be graded.
- Set Expectations. Establish how and when you will communicate with students. Many suggest using the "Announcements" area regularly for efficient communication with the entire class. Lay out when you will be reviewing assignments and how you will acknowledge receipt of assignments.
- Choose Written Words Carefully. This can sometimes make the difference between a motivated student and one who ends up dropping. Pay attention to subtle language cues in e-mails.
- Manage Your Time. Since online courses are always "there," set boundaries on your availability both for your students' benefit and your own.
