45 minutes to a better online course

University of Houston-Victoria

Center for Teaching Innovation

Michael Weston, Instructional Technologist

April 6, 2010

45 Minutes to a better Course

So, what makes a course

“better”?

Learning outcomes?

Higher scores on student evaluations?

Student retention?

Student satisfaction?

Fun?

Nope!

These are the RESULTS of a “better”

course:

Measureable increase in learning outcomes

Higher scores on student evaluations

Improved student retention in program

Students communicate their satisfaction

More Fun

What makes a course “better”?

Content and Instruction

Common sense

Pedagogically sound

Research supported

Easy to implement

Get results!

14 Ideas that you can implement right

now

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Three ideas Eight ideas Twelve ideas 14 ideas!

Ideas

1. Add a Welcome Message

2. Orientation

3. Diversity of Content

4. Modularize (aka „chunk‟)

5. Group Activity

6. Challenge Them

7. Self-Reflection

8. Enthusiasm trumps polish

9. Sage on the Stage…

…Or Guide on the side?

10. Get to know your students

11. Individualized

Encouragement

12. Prompt Feedback

13. Email or Call Drop-offs

14. Forgive