Online Teaching Strategies

While most of my teaching incorporates a student-centered philosophy, I find this lens particularly important in developing online and hybrid courses. The independent and disembodied aspects of online learning requires strategies that invite student engagement and foster the connection I strive for as a teacher. The following are some examples of my preferred strategies for incorporating connection into online teaching:

Participatory structure:  I structure an online course with a variety of interactive components. For example, asynchronous discussion forums are helpful to engage readings and other assignment materials. In synchronous sessions, breakout rooms provide opportunity for real-time connection with others in the course to discuss lectures and other course content. For assignments, utilizing wikis and collaborative portfolios are ways to embed participation with others with accessible online activities. 

Problem-based assignments: In the absence of in-person connection, problem-based assignments invite students to connect course content to local issues in their community, creating engagement beyond the online environment in direct ways. 

Films and other alternative resources: The accessibility of online material, such a dramatic films and documentaries, provides a wealth of resources to supplement lecture and reading material. Requiring engagement with these resources is an effective way to meet course objectives beyond the standard reading and writing that accompanies online discussion forums. 

Creative presentations: Whether is individual and group presentations, giving opportunity for students to engage course material creatively and share their work with others invites active participation from students with the material itself as well as the community of learners in the course. 

Short video lectures: Particularly useful in asynchronous delivery, short video lecture can capture key points of course content and direct assignment and activities in clear ways. For example, I post a 2-3 minute course introduction video on the LMS course page that introduces myself and explains how the online environment will be utilized. 

Polls and surveys: In synchronous classes, a short poll can survey how students are doing (i.e. poll for personal well-being) and tracking engagement with content (i.e. assess main ideas from previous classes). In asynchronous classes, a poll can invite students to make decisions related to aspects of course content and invite valuable feedback in the absence of being able to 'read the room' that an in-person class allows.