Instructional Resources
Print-friendlyThe following is a collection of annotated links to online resources organized by topics related teaching and learning with an emphasis on online learning and use of instructional technologies.
| Teaching Online (General) | Strategies for using Technologies |
| General Teaching & Learning Topics |
Teaching Online (General)
Chat and Synchronous Communication Strategies
Taming the Chat Beast: Synchronous Discussion in On-line Courses
Craig W. Smith, University of Nebraska Lincoln
Tips for having successful live chats by using "chatiquette."
Synchronous Discussion in Online Courses: A Pedagogical Strategy for Taming the Chat Beast
Craig W. Smith
A more in-depth version of the article above, by the same author.
Strategies for Using Chat as a Communication Tool
Illinois Online Network
Authors teamed to prepare the first comprehensive manuscript on the evolving conceptual and technical aspects of e-portfolio systems.
Course Design Ideas
Principles of Online Design
A very clear and easy to follow guide and checklist for the design of online courses.
Online Courses
A short tutorial with resources for designing and teaching an online course.
Developing Course Objectives
Illinois Online Network
Objectives describe what learners will be able to do at the end of instruction, and they provide clear reasons for teaching. Learn how to write effective objectives with this brief tutorial.
Instructional Design Tips for Online Learning
A convenient checklist of tips for designing and teaching online courses covering areas such as Learner Support and Resources, Online Organization and Design, Instructional Design, Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning, Appropriate and Effective Use of Technology, and Faculty Use of Student Feedback.
Crash Course in Learning Theory
Kathy Sierra
Clearly and concisely describes 21 teaching strategies gleaned from cognitive science, learning theory, neuroscience, psychology, and entertainment (including game design).
Guide to Internet Course Design and Development
The Northest Texas Consortium, Center for Educational Technologies
This guide provides information on planning a course, instructional design (including goals and objectives, assessments and evaluations, feedback, organization, etc), interaction, and more
Online Discussions, Collaborative and Team-Based Learning
Large Enrollment Courses -- Managing Effectively
Murray Turoff, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Six key principles that enable large upper division and graduate courses to be delivered successfully using online discussions.
Collaborative Learning Environments Sourcebook
This online book is a resource for academics and students who want to develop collaborative learning environments or communities of practice in which people work together to create new knowledge while learning new skills.
The Power of Teams for Powerful Learning
Univerity of Oklahoma Team-based Learning Website
Materials to help get started with team-based learning strategies
Team-based Learning Homepage
Oklahoma University
What are they? How to get started? Video demos and more. It's all here.
Building Blocks for Teams
Teaching and Learning with Technology, Penn State
This site will show you how to effectively incorporate teamwork into your courses, avoid common pitfalls and turn it into a valuable learning experience for your students.
Tips from Instructors Regarding Electronic Class Discussions
Practical advice from experienced instructors and students at Ohio State for those who will use electronic class discussion in the future.
"Managing and Motivating!" Distance Learning Group Activities
Barbara Millis
Helpful and straightforward tips for having online group activities.
Social Dynamics of the College Classroom: Issues and Ideas for Distance Educators
Indiana State University
Ideas for promoting a communication and community in an online course.
Hybrid/Blended Courses
Blended Learning Guide
This site features tools, tips and best practices aimed at trainers and instructors who are looking to effectively incorporate live in-person instruction with a variety of virtual training tools such as web conferencing, wikis and self-paced tutorials. The guide also includes case studies from a variety of libraries that have created engaging and successful staff training programs using blended learning modes (4/17/07).
Hybrid Course Website
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Excellent site that provides a variety of resources on hybrid courses.
Hybrid Courses Are Best
David B Brown, Campus Technology Magazine
Discusses research indicating that a mix of face-to-face and online courses are better than either alone.
ALN Principles of Blended Environments
The Sloan Consortium
Provides research findings and implications for practice for blended courses, in a table format.
Hybrid Courses: Obstacles and Solutions for Faculty and Students
Discusses the challenges and problems encountered by faculty and students when working in the Hybrid course model
The Hybrid Online Model: Good Practice
A hybrid approach to online learning offers important lessons for institutions entering the online arena.
Online Course Quality Standards
Checklist for Evaluating Online Courses
Based on the information described in the National Education Association's Guide to Online High School Courses.
Online Course Delivery Example
An example of online course delivery standards based on the Seven Best Educational Practices from Chickering and Erhmann (1996).
10 Things I've Learned About Teaching Online
ELearn Magazine
Michelle Everson from the University of Minnesota shares lessons she has learned after five years teaching online.
WebQuests
Primary site for guidance in using WebQuests (or, how to develop a well organized high-level online learning activity using an inquiry model, which uses online research materials). Also see Rubric for WebQuests
Instructional Strategies for Online Courses
Illinois Online Network
Lists and briefly describes a variety of online teaching strategies.
Lessons Learned by Comparing On-line Education Strategies Across Disciplines
Stephen H. Edwards and Diane M. Hodge
This paper presents four brief case studies in the disciplines of computer science and social work. Lessons learned by comparing these diverse experiences are discussed, including creating a community of learners, supporting asynchronous student communication, using synchronous on-line meetings, and providing social support. In addition, the experiences presented indicate that stereotypes of student capabilities and expectations may often be inaccurate, and revising one's views may be helpful in achieving better results in on-line education.
"Or Even Worse:" A Dozen Things that Can Go Wrong in an Online Course
Rory McGreal, Associate Vice President, Research, Athabasca University (04/22/05)
UMUC Verizon Virtual Resource Site for Teaching with Technology
Online teaching modules:
Module 1 provides resources for use in the selection of appropriate media to accomplish specific learning objectives.
Module 2 provides resources for faculty using technology in research assignments, small group projects, and discussions to encourage activity.
Fifty-One Competencies for Online Instruction
This paper identifies and describes 51 compentencies needed by online instructors and outline an instructor-training program that satisfies 3 or 24 benchmarks for excellence recommended by the Institute of Higher Education Policy.
E-Learning Post
We recently caught up with Dr. Hossein Arsham, a Wright Distinguished Research Professor of Statistics and Management Science at University of Baltimore. He is fresh from the experience of teaching two courses of the first all-online accredited Web MBA programme. In this interview, we aim to distill from his unique experience, some finer points of teaching and learning online.
Online Syllabi
Optimizing Your Syllabus for Online Students
Onlinelearning.net, your source for teacher education online, gives a checklist of what should be included in your online course syllabus and why.
An Evaluation of Online Syllabi in The University of Tennessee College of Communications
Teresa Welsh, The University of Tennessee
Strategies for Specific Technologies
Blogs
Instructional Blogging: Promoting Interactivity, Student-Centered Learning, and Peer Input
Stuart Glogoff
Good article about using a blog in a course with helpful examples.
How you SHOULD use blogs in education
Blogsavvy, your professional blog consultant, James Farmer
Lists suggested uses for blogs in education.
How NOT to Use Blogs in Education
7 Things You Should Know About Blogs
A blog (shorthand for "Web log") is an online collection of personal commentary and links. Blogs can be viewed as online journals to which others can respond that are as simple to use as e-mail. The simplicity of creating and maintaining blogs means they can rapidly lead to open discussions. Faculty are using blogs to express their opinions, promote dialogue in their disciplines, and support teaching and learning; students increasingly use blogs for personal expression and as course requirements. By carefully evaluating blogs' strengths and weaknesses, educators are learning to set guidelines and expectations to maximize blogs' instructional benefits. Structured exercises and clear goals are further enhancing the educational value of blogs. Put into practice with an understanding of their benefits and limitations, blogs are an increasingly accepted instructional technology tool. ID: ELI7006
Weblogs and Discourse
Blogtalk Conference Paper by Oliver Wrede
Excellent article discussing potential uses of blogs in higher education. Focuses on three questions:
1. How can the weblog format improve discourse?
2. How can weblogs support teaching at universities?
3. What are the insitutional benefits of weblogs in universities?
Clickers (Personal Response Systems)
7 Things You Should Know About Clickers
Educause Learning Initiative
A brief introduction to clickers in education.
Educause Pocket Edition #4: Clickers
Educause Learning Initiative
A podcast about the use of clickers in the classroom.
Clicker Best Practices
TurningPoint
An easy to read list of best practices provided by the provider of clicker technology supported by OIT.
E-Portfolio
E-Portfolio Clearinghouse
American Association of Higher Education
A database of institutions working with portfolios and other resources, this site offers a constellation of information around this very important new higher education topic
Electronic Portfolios: Faculty Resources
Virginia Tech
A compiled list of links to articles on e-portfolios
Demonstrating and Assessing Student Learning with E-Portfolios
Educause Learning Initiative Paper by George Lorenzo and John Ittelson
This report reviews how selected higher education institutions have implemented assessment e-portfolio systems that demonstrate and assess learning.
E-Portfolio White Paper
E-Portfolio Consortium
Portfolios to Webfolios and Beyond: Levels of Maturation
Douglas Love, Gerry McKean, and Paul Gathercoal
Descriptions of development stages offer institutions guidance about their place in the process and to move to the next level.
Podcasts
Podcasting and Vodcasting: A White Paper
University of Missouri, Peter Meng (March 2005)
Good overview of podcasting. Includes possible uses, pedagogical implications, and technical requirements.
PoducateMe: Practical Solutions for Podcasting in Education
Provides a guide for:
- Finding and downloading podcasts
- Selecting appropriate podcasting equipment and software
- Recording, editing and polishing your podcast
- Creating an "enhanced" podcast containing links and graphics
- Uploading your podcast to the Internet
- Creating a podcast blog
- Sharing podcasts with your students
Wikis
For Teachers New to Wikis
The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
This site provides evolving information on how to incorporate wikis into your classroom. Whether you are a first-time or frequent user of wikis, we invite you to contribute ideas, information, and insights regarding wikis and their value as a colloaborative, public writing tool. To contribute, simply select edit, insert your additions or revisions, and then, if you wish, add your name to the Contributors list.
Wiki: Participatory Media Lesson Plans
Social media CO-LAB
"These are a series of small lesson plans (I call them "labs") I've used as assignments for my students. These pages serve as more permanent reminders of what I show them during the face to face class meeting, as assignments, and as resource pages for further learning. Please feel free to add your own."
Uses and Potentials of Wikis in the Classroom
S. Pixy Ferris and Hilary Wilder
General Teaching & Learning Topics
Classroom Assessment Techniques
National Teaching and Learning Forum
The techniques are mostly simple, non-graded, anonymous, in-class activities that give both you and your students useful feedback on the teaching-learning process.
Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire
Barbara A. Soloman and Richard M. Felder
Problem-based Learning and Case Studies
Problem-based Learning, especially in the context of large classes
McMaster University, Canada
Describes problem based learning and how it is used for chemical engineering students.
Case Studies in Science
State Univesity of New York at Buffalo
A good list of case study and PBL sites covering several topic areas.
WebQuest Rubric
A rubric for evaluating WebQuests.
Rubrics Links
Penn State Complilation
Resources and examples of different kinds of rubrics.
Rubistar
A tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics but does not have the time to develop them from scratch.
Course Check Resource Bank
There are several rubric resources within CourseCheck (a simple reflective tool designed for faculty to increase student engagement in online courses by utilizing the 7 Principles of Good Practice). In the Principle 2 section, there are Kent State rubrics that measure collaboration, teamwork, task completion and many student skills. In the principle 4 there's a critical thinking rubric. And in Principle 6, there's a great resource from IOL about creating rubrics and determining whether rubrics are effective.
Rubrics.com
Helps you design assessments.
More Rubric Examples
The heart of performance assessment, designing criteria and scoring guides is facilitated through the use of "Rubric Templates". Users are able to tap into this software's extensive database and search for holistic or analytic criteria, 3, 4, and 5 level rubric scales or add their own performance criteria/indicators. Check out some of the rubrics.
Shedding Light on Today's Students
Ohio Learning Network
Explore these resources for a deeper understanding of your students.
10 Characteristics of Adults as Learners
Teaching Students about Plagiarism: An Internet Solution to an Internet Problem
Eleanour Snow
Author advocates online tutorials as an easy and effective way of teaching students about plagiarism, and offers examples and links to tutorials for teachers eager to begin the process of educating themselves and their students.
Web-based learning: Factors affecting students' satisfaction and learning experience
Kyung-Sun Kim and Joi L. Moore
First Monday, volume 10, number 11 (November 2005).
How to Cheat Online
Presented at the 2005 WebCT Conference by John Krutsch from UVSC
This session outlines the different ways students can cheat online, and ways instructors and course designers can minimize cheating. A summary is available.
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Last modified: Thu July 30, 2009 11:34 AM © 2009 University of Maryland |
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