Learning to Teach Online

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This episode explores some of the key considerations when planning your online or blended (face-to-face and online) class. It examines the importance of considering pedagogy before technology; constructively aligning assessment with learning outcomes; and the integration of digital literacy skills. It also offers some useful strategies for deciding which components are better suited to an online learning environment.

It is strongly recommended that teachers who are considering planning an online class also watch other Learning to Teach Online episodes and case studies for more in-depth information about the concepts discussed in this episode.

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This case study examines the use of eBooks and eReaders as an extension of the usual Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). This initiative was undertaken as part of the DUCKLING research project (Delivering University Curricula: Knowledge, Learning and Innovation Gains) conducted by the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester in the UK.

While the context of this study involves distance students, using electronic books can have applications in any discipline where students are required to undertake a significant amount of reading. This case study discusses some advantages of using eBooks, and outlines the process involved in creating and uploading them to an eReader device.

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Online classes are not bound by scheduled class times, and it can be very easy to spend too much time teaching and managing your students in this environment. This episode highlights some important issues regarding managing your teaching time online. It examines some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of online teaching related to time, and offers some practical tips and suggestions on how teachers can make their online teaching more effective and productive.

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This case study features Tam Nguyen from The University of New South Wales, describing how a blog was used in one particular teaching context to promote peer-to-peer interaction, feedback and discussion. Tam's students also integrate YouTube and Flickr into their blogs, maximising the potential of both social media and a learning management system.

While the case study does examine one particular teaching application of a blog, the principles discussed can just as easily be applied to any teaching situation where the ability for individuals to chronologically record a learning process, collate different learning resources such as text, video and audio, and increased peer feedback or discussion between students is desired. This episode will examine the context, planning and teaching within the case study, and highlight any issues that were encountered, and benefits that make this type of online teaching worthwhile.

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This Learning to Teach Online case study aims to demonstrate how the effective use of simple 'just in time' style online tutorials, stringently prepared and designed to support the needs of the students, can positively impact student learning when used in conjunction with traditional teaching approaches. Stephanie Eckoldt and Dominic Alder from the University of Bristol examine the reasons why they adopted an online supported teaching approach, and discuss key considerations in the planning and use of online tutorials. It is hoped that teachers in a wide range of different disciplines will be able to relate how the use of online tutorials would be of benefit to their own students' learning. Any teachers or students studying medicine and surgery are freely able to access and use the Hippocrates online tutorials.

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This case study aims to show how simple and powerful using audio feedback can be. Simon McIntyre from COFA Online, at The University of New South Wales discusses how he uses audio feedback effectively in his trans-national fully online Master of Cross-Disciplinary Art and Design program. While the context of this case study is in art and design, the use of audio files for giving students feedback is applicable to any discipline or almost any type of student work, even in 100% face-to-face classes. This case study will examine some of the motivations for adopting the use of audio feedback, the benefits for students and teachers, and some key considerations to keep in mind.

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This case study aims to give you a basic understanding of the website Flickr, and how it was used to teach photography in a blended (face-to-face and online) class. It discusses the benefits of using an online community for submitting, organising and giving feedback on images, and the impact on student learning. Key issues surrounding pedagogic planning and teaching with Flickr that were encountered in this context of the case study will also be examined, highlighting the benefits and potential issues of adopting this approach.

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In this episode we look at two different types of online learning environments: a centralised Learning Management System (LMS), and free open access social media (such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc). We discuss the benefits of each and highlight some important issues that need to be considered when using each of them.

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This episode provides a brief overview of how our increasingly digitally networked world is changing the way we communicate and learn. It examines the benefits and challenges of online teaching, and how higher education is responding and adapting to these changes. We hope to paint a broad picture of the shifting educational landscape and to contextualise the need for the Learning to Teach Online project to help individual teachers play their own part in this.

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