Category: Guidance

Instructional Design

Using Publisher Materials in Online Courses

Textbook publishers often provide useful materials like slide decks, test banks, and interactive content that can be a great help when building your online course. These materials can be a

Course Facilitation

Establishing Presence: Quick Tips

In an online course, the feeling of connection—known as “presence”—plays a key role in students’ success and satisfaction. It helps break the isolation of online learning by fostering meaningful interactions with

person on computer
Course Facilitation

Interactions in Online Courses

When thinking about how to enhance engagement in online classrooms, instructors often focus on making the material more exciting. They may wonder, “Should I add videos or interactive lessons? Can

Assessments and Assignments

Creative Methods of Assessment in Online Learning

When students and instructors hear the word “assessment,” they often think of long, stressful exams—or equally long nights of grading! But an assessment is really any task that evaluates students’

Instructional Design

Strategies for Conducting Student Feedback Surveys

Student feedback surveys, often called course evaluations, are a fantastic way to gather open and honest feedback that can improve the quality of an online course. These surveys help instructors

Discussions

Sample Discussion Board Ground Rules

Navigating online discussion forums can be tricky for students new to the online learning environment. Some may not understand their importance, while others might feel unsure about how to participate. This

Instructional Design

The Use of Narrative Structure in Course Design

No matter what you’re trying to achieve, knowing your goal is essential to reaching it. This simple truth lies at the heart of backward design, a powerful approach for building

OER

How to Find Quality Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Have you noticed terms like open education, textbook-free, or zero-textbook popping up more often in higher education discussions? These concepts are part of a growing movement to reduce financial barriers

Course Facilitation

Holding Synchronous Online Office Hours

Research shows that having a strong instructor presence in online courses can make a big difference in student success. One simple way to boost your presence? Hold synchronous office hours.

Instructional Design

Guiding Students to Think Critically in Online Learning

Humans are naturally inclined to think—it’s something we all do, without ever being taught how. From making decisions to expressing ourselves in conversation or writing, thinking is at the heart

Accessibility

Designing Course Content for Screen Readers

One of the most common tools helping students with visual impairments navigate the digital world is the screen reader. These software programs convert text into formats that are easier to

someone sitting at a desk with a computer in front of a window
Course Facilitation

Tips for Instructor and Course Introduction Videos

There are two key introductions for every online course: your personal intro and an introduction to the course. Below are some things to think about as you organize and script

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