An overview of teaching online, focusing on the importance of communication.

1. Teaching online: what’s
different?
Prof Linda Creanor
GCU LEAD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2. Overview
• What’s different about
teaching & learning online?
• Online communication
• The online community
• Communication styles
• Motivation & time
management

3. https://slate.adobe.com/cp/BxZ5f/

4. The 5 Stage Model (Salmon, 2011)
Log on & make contact
Form the online community
Exchange information
Engage with the learning
Apply new knowledge
Learner Activities
Welcome & encourage
Find common links
Support task
Facilitate discussions
Link to wider context
Tutor Role
http://www.gillysalmon.com/five-stage-model.html

5. Designing online learning activities
They should be –
•Motivating
•Interactive
•Flexible and adaptable
•Customisable

6. What’s different about teaching online (1)?
Encourage participationEncourage participation
& collaboration& collaboration
Organise & manageOrganise & manage
the online environmentthe online environment
Give clear instructionsGive clear instructions
on activities &on activities &
discussion topicsdiscussion topics
Facilitate onlineFacilitate online
discussionsdiscussions
Set tone ofSet tone of
the discussionsthe discussions
Provide basicProvide basic
‘‘ground rules’ground rules’
for the online learnersfor the online learners
You will ....

7. What’s different about teaching online (2)?
Learners need to......
• be more self-motivated
• become confident in using the technology
• be prepared to accept more responsibility for their own
learning
• make time to contribute to online discussions and activities

8. What’s different about teaching online (3)?
Tutors and students also need to ....
• develop an online identity
• be willing to engage with the online community
• know when and where to find help and support
• manage time to allow for regular communication/online and
offline study

9. Online communication tools
• Discussion boards/wikis/blogs etc
(asynchronous)
– You don’t need to reply right away
– You can have time for reflection before
responding
– Everything posted there remains visible for all to
see
• Real-time ‘chat’ and videoconferencing
(synchronous)
– Immediate responses
– Gives a sense of ‘presence’
– Requires quick thinking and short responses
– Needs to be well managed

10. Building the Learning Community
GCULearn discussion groups, wikis, blogs, social
media
agreeing responsibilities between learners & tutors
group members supporting each other
Making sure everyone is clear about what’s expected
Most importantly, regular & meaningful
communication
supported by ….

11. Communication Styles
Things to think about –
• Formal or informal?
• Personal or impersonal?
• Length of messages?
• Frequency of messages?
• To the group/tutor/individual?
• Use of jargon, acronyms etc?
• Use of humour (carefully & sparingly)!

12. Useful Tips
• Give messages a meaningful
title
• Avoid ambiguity
• highlight key points in bold
text
• Use clear fonts in reasonable
size
• Use paragraphs to divide text
to make it easier to read
• use file attachments for long
messages
• respond to correct thread in
the discussion group
• KISS – Keep It Short and
Simple

13. Expressing Feelings
" I agree/disagree ….."
" I'm confused…………."
" I feel strongly about this ……."
" I'm finding this very interesting …….."
Makes it less impersonal!

14. References
• Salmon, G. (2011) (3rd
Ed) E-Moderating: The Key to Online
Teaching and Learning, Routledge
• MacDonald, J. (2008) (2nd
Ed), Blended Learning and Online
Tutoring, Gower