1. Online course content:
Main issues:
 Building an online community;
 Learner training and readiness;
 Always state clear objectives;
 Chunking your content into smaller pieces;
 Providing a print version of the web page, provide PowerPoint presentations for
students to download;
 Optimizing graphics so they can load as quickly as possible;
 Good structure (e.g. clear and user-friendly visual design) and navigation;
 Committing to a system of feedback;
 Opportunities for interaction through leaner activities;
 Repetition (important idea);
 Synthesis (important ideas+ learning objectives) ;
 Stimulation-hold learner attention;
 Variety (technical tools and tasks to engage learners) ;
 Open-ended;
 Continuous evaluation;
(Reference:
https://www.alt.ac.uk/sites/default/files/assets_editor_uploads/documents/eln064.pdf)
Challenges:
 Finding the right balance between collaborative and individual work;
 Directing learners to available resources Vs creating something new;
 Balancing activities and task types to maintain interest;
 Engaging learners with different learning styles and preferences;
 Dealing with student needs/building a rapport;
 Technical back-up;

2. Online tasks type
·
Synchronous (e.g. chatroom, Blackboard collaborate)
·
Asynchronous (e.g discussion boards, padlet, video clips, slide presentations)
Possible uses of online task type
Forum
discussion
Strengths
•
•
•
Wiki
Weaknesses
Time (enough time
to think)
Sense of community
Starting
a
new
thread
Strengths
•
•
Time
(wait
contributions)
Correction
needed)
Task ideas
• Voting
for
• Giving
advice
opinions
(if
• Reacting to text
• Reacting to a
video
Weaknesses
Task ideas
•
Collaborative
•
Can be deleted
•
Story
•
Learn
•
Unequal
•
Translation
•
Negotiating rules
Managing
skills
•
Work
participation
in
a
team
(anyone can
their share)
Journal
Strengths
•
•
Assignment
Individual care
•
add
Can’t use it at the
same time
Weaknesses
Giving feedback
Strengths
•
Time consuming
Task ideas
•
Advice,
opinion
on anything that
is too personal to
be shared by
everyone
Weaknesses
Task ideas

3. •
to
be
Individual work
“serious”
•
can
be
evaluated
Essay
Research
•
•
•
•
considered
revision
individually
Chat
Strengths
Weaknesses
Task ideas
•
Talk to natives
•
Hard to monitor
•
Interviews
•
Live
•
Technical difficulties
•
Chatbots
•
Work together with
•
Finding the time
homework)
•
Discussion
•
the teacher
Individual
feedback
•
debate
(Reference:
http://projects.ael.unituebingen.de/iceurope/moodle/file.php/46/Phase_4_Task_types_Workshop_2.doc)
Instruction Design tips for online learning (from Joan van Duzer, Humboldt
State University):
·
Category 1: learner support and resources
·
Category 2: online organization and design
·
Category 3: instructional design and delivery
·
Category 4: assessment & evaluation of student learning
·
Category 5: appropriate & effective use of technology
·
Category 6: faculty use of student feedback
Learner support & resources: examples
·
Quiz to self assess readiness to be an online student
·
Tutorials on how to use tools
·
Netiquette guidelines
·
Links to websites with supporting info relevant to course content
Online organization and design: examples
(as

4. ·
·
·
·
·
·
·
course content organized in logical format
links accurate and up to date
course schedule available in printer friendly format
resources divided into required and optional
easy to read typeface
consistent layout
clear directions for each task
Instructional design and delivery: examples
·
ice breaker activities
·
instructor introduces self to model student introductions task
·
expectations made clear
·
provide summary to reinforce learning
·
variety of activities to address different learning styles
·
collaborative exercises
Assessment & evaluation: examples
·
prerequisites defined
·
plagiarism
·
criteria for evaluation of participation
·
rich and rapid feedback
Innovative teaching technology: examples
·
appropriate tools e.g. discussion boards, chats, teleconferencing
·
try new methods of delivery
·
multimedia e.g. audio clips, graphics, powerpoint presentations
Faculty use of student feedback: examples
·
end of course evaluation survey
·
student feedback
·
modify course or elements