Trade Secret #4: Be a hoarder

This took me a shockingly long time to figure out. I am embarrassed to say that it wasn’t until 2012 that I began to personally archive all of my postings in the group discussion forums, and I now use these as a base from which to continuously adapt and reframe year over year. Although I…

Trade Secret #3: Use videos to introduce each week and mix it up

Incorporating a short video of myself at the beginning of each “class” (weekly module) helps to establish instructional immediacy, a key component of effective online teaching and learning. We’re not talking high production values, but just helping students to put a face and personality to my name helps foster a sense of connectedness and engagement.…

Trade Secret #2: Create a consistent course architecture

Institutional Learning Management Systems tend not to be the most intuitive or visually appealing. I create folders for each week’s content, populated with the same kinds of materials in the exact same sequence. This offers a sense of continuity to the online classroom – analogous to holding a face-to-face course in the same room every…

Trade Secret #1: Put out the welcome mat and over-communicate

The most important things that students want to know are: “What is expected of me?” “How do I access the course?”, “Where can I get help if I need it?” and “How can I be successful?” I make a point of addressing these questions by mobilizing multiple communication channels. People access and attend to information…

Trade Secret #5: Show you care and put it in writing!

This is no big secret, but paying close attention to the affective dimension is key to learning and teaching. The majority of online courses at this time are still largely text-based, so I pay special attention to the nuances and emotional tone in all of my communications with students, whether via email or in the…

Google Slides: Your Answer to Collaborative Synchronous Work

With Google Slides you can create template slide decks that encourage collaboration. By creating templates, students can follow along – you provide the backbone to support students in creating, researching, and presenting. Working together on slides is an interactive synchronous classroom activity that can be done over and over again to build skills and learn…

Teaching at a Distance Etiquette

Explore some rules/norms that will help to maintain respectful behaviour and effective learning in synchronous and asynchronous online classes.

Engage with Flipgrid!

A simple strategy to promote student engagement and community building. The strategy is about using a video platform that provides equal opportunities to all students.

The Breakfast Club

Amy Pelvin describes feeling disconnected from the day to day interactions with students, particularly in full or partial asynchronous courses. She decided to start The Breakfast Club. This runs during asynchronous classes and is an opportunity to connect with students and build relationships.

Spotlight on Learners – Tell Me About Yourself!

I invite learners to complete a brief online survey entitled “Spotlight on Learners –Tell Me About Yourself!” at the beginning of the semester. This small-but-mighty survey acknowledges the humanity behind each online screen.