arguments and evidence are more important than facts and figures
communicating clear goals and expectations
incorporating multiple active learning opportunities
providing frequent, prompt, and constructive feedback
creating teacher support resources
an exploratory study of the practices of exemplary online teachers, Lewis and Abdul-Hamid (2006)
efforts to provide constructive and individualized feedback to students
facilitating student interaction
paying attention to how a course is organized and how teacher presence is enhanced
involvement and learning
most of the literature deals with the “science” of online teaching rather than the “art” of online teaching. In this paper, we attempt to remedy this state of affairs
Faculty Learning Community
The program typically includes a curriculum about enhancing teaching and learning with regularly-scheduled meetings and activities that provide participants with opportunities pertaining to the FLC’s major focus. An important component of an FLC is an emphasis on the scholarship of teaching and learning
eLearning Pedagogy FLC
Its general goal was to increase faculty interest in learning and teaching with instructional technologies
Peers are viewed as important in the learning process by creating an environment where “students can reason together and challenge each other” (p. 53) and grapple with the content together while building a sense of community
participants attended monthly meetings that included teaching and learning activities, development and training opportunities, and community building
participants read the literature on the scholarship of teaching and designed individual projects that allowed the assessment and evaluation of their instructional changes, suitable for presentation or publication in a professional journal
At the start of our FLC, we read Bain’s book, with the goal of discussing it in terms of its implications for teaching online
during these discussions, each FLC member listed out the major and most interesting points from Bain’s book
understanding is more important than remembering
we analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of what the best teachers studied by Bain did in terms of online teaching
creating effective student interactions with faculty, peers, and content
fostering student engagement
s timulating intellectual development
confronting intriguing, beautiful or important problems, authentic tasks that will challenge [students] to grapple with ideas, rethink assumptions and examine mental models of reality
building rapport with students
behaviors such as demonstrating and encouraging trust and potential in students, flexibility, self-directed learning, communicating learning and success intentions to students, and conveying realistic goals and expectations.
Fostering Student Engagement
foster engagement through effective student interactions with faculty, peers, and content
see the potential in every student, demonstrate a strong trust in their students, encourage them to be reflective and candid, and foster intrinsic motivation moving students toward learning goals
The best teachers want students to learn, regularly assess their efforts and make adjustments as needed, and accommodate diversity with sensitivity to student needs and issues
we summarized the major categories of behaviors shown by Bain’s best teachers that are most applicable to online teaching and learning
Class content – through its design, lectures, discussions, and assignments – supports the student learning objectives
Accordingly, the best teachers use meaningful examples, stimulating assignments, and thought provoking questions to motivate students to know more about their discipline
creating a community of learners where the quantity and quality of interactions with peers and faculty foster student engagement
Student-to-faculty interaction is considered paramount in fostering student engagement
student-to-student interaction is equally important as the quality and quantity of exchanges are predictors of success
students should “feel a personal and emotional connection to the subject, their professor, and their peers
In the online environment, lecture need not and should not be the primary teaching strategy because it leads to learner isolation and attrition
The most important role of the teacher is to ensure a high level of interaction and participation
This is achieved by means of greater student-to-faculty contact, participation in class discussions, and a more reflective learning style
it is imperative that students be active, not passive, to create a true learning environment