Teaching online: what’s different?

Prof Linda CreanorGCU LEAD

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Overview

• What’s different about teaching & learning online?

• Online communication

• The online community

• Communication styles

• Motivation & time management

https://slate.adobe.com/cp/BxZ5f/

The 5 Stage Model (Salmon, 2011)

Log on & make contact

Form the online community

Exchange information

Engage with the learning

Apply new knowledge

Learner Activities

Welcome & encourage

Find common links

Support task

Facilitate discussions

Link to wider context

Tutor Role

http://www.gillysalmon.com/five-stage-model.html

Designing online learning activities

They should be –

•Motivating

•Interactive

•Flexible and adaptable

•Customisable

What’s different about teaching online (1)?

Encourage participationEncourage participation& collaboration& collaboration

Organise & manage Organise & manage the online environmentthe online environment

Give clear instructions Give clear instructions on activities & on activities &

discussion topicsdiscussion topics

Facilitate online Facilitate online discussionsdiscussions

Set tone of Set tone of the discussionsthe discussions

Provide basic Provide basic ‘‘ground rules’ ground rules’

for the online learnersfor the online learners

You will ....

What’s different about teaching online (2)?

Learners need to......• be more self-motivated

• become confident in using the technology

• be prepared to accept more responsibility for their own learning

• make time to contribute to online discussions and activities

What’s different about teaching online (3)?

Tutors and students also need to ....• develop an online identity

• be willing to engage with the online community

• know when and where to find help and support

• manage time to allow for regular communication/online and offline study

Online communication tools

• Discussion boards/wikis/blogs etc (asynchronous)– You don’t need to reply right away– You can have time for reflection before

responding– Everything posted there remains visible for all to

see

• Real-time ‘chat’ and videoconferencing (synchronous)– Immediate responses– Gives a sense of ‘presence’– Requires quick thinking and short responses– Needs to be well managed

Building the Learning Community

GCULearn discussion groups, wikis, blogs, social media

agreeing responsibilities between learners & tutorsgroup members supporting each otherMaking sure everyone is clear about what’s expectedMost importantly, regular & meaningful

communication

supported by ….

Communication Styles

Things to think about –

• Formal or informal?• Personal or impersonal?• Length of messages?• Frequency of messages?• To the group/tutor/individual?• Use of jargon, acronyms etc?• Use of humour (carefully & sparingly)!

Useful Tips

• Give messages a meaningful title

• Avoid ambiguity

• highlight key points in bold text

• Use clear fonts in reasonable size

• Use paragraphs to divide text to make it easier to read

• use file attachments for long messages

• respond to correct thread in the discussion group

• KISS – Keep It Short and Simple

Expressing Feelings

" I agree/disagree ….." " I'm confused…………."

" I feel strongly about this ……."" I'm finding this very interesting …….."

Makes it less impersonal!

References• Salmon, G. (2011) (3rd Ed) E-Moderating: The Key to Online

Teaching and Learning, Routledge• MacDonald, J. (2008) (2nd Ed), Blended Learning and Online

Tutoring, Gower