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Technical proficiencies in the tools needed to develop and
maintain an On-Line class are critical for success. Just
as students need to have the technical tools and the necessary
computer skills to take On-Line classes, so must the instructor. |
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Prepare all your
course material (goals, objectives, presentations, documents,
etc.) before uploading it to the WebCT server. Preparation is
ESSENTIAL to any On-Line course. All the material
especially the schedule needs to be predefined and most
importantly adhered to as much as possible. |
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Develop the course with a student-centered
approach in mind. The instructor should encourage collaborative learning so that students are
responsible for resolving most of the problems themselves.
|
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Develop detailed
and dependable course material such as the syllabus, schedule,
and grading policy so that expectations are clearly stated. By
clearly communicating expectations and responsibilities, the
student becomes accountable for their learning decisions. |
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Don’t let
technology dominate your course. Keep focus on the course
subject, sometimes it is easy to get enthralled in technology
and loose sight of the main objective. Technology is a tool, a
delivery system. |
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Promote online dialogue to enhance
learning. Require students to post paragraph responses to
specific questions. In addition students should respond to a
certain number of student postings. As the facilitator you
supervise the discussions and respond when necessary. This
encourages communication among students and your periodic
comments assure the students of your presence. By the end of the course your students
will notice a measurable improvement in their writing skills. |
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Use the Web as
a resource for your online course. The Web has become a
dominant resource for information. By using the web as a major
source of information, the student learns life long research
skills. Have the students do the surfing for you, you’d be
surprised at the amount of quality information they can find.
These
resources can be useful as reference material for your next
course, or a related course. |
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Not all
resource material is freely available on the Web. The
Dona Aña
Community College Library offers new and powerful
portals for research of printed and electronic material
not freely available on the web. The newly upgraded portal offers the
user the ability to save and email the selected search listing.
The new features are cutting edge in research tools I would
suggest at least one assignment using reference material from
the DACC Library. |
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Encourage students to print some of the
course material such as study notes so that they can be read
of-line. Reading textbook and course material of-line
gives the student respite from the computer. Reading a
book under a tree is still a very relaxing and pleasurable
experience. |
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Continuously
evaluate students' progress. Evaluations and a detailed grading
policy reassure the students of their current status and
strengthen your presence in the virtual classroom. |
References
http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall73/kosak73.html
http://www.ed.psu.edu/acsde/deos/deosnews.asp#_ftn1
http://www.natcom.org/Instruction/summerconf/distance.htm
http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/ |
