Enhancing Online Instruction: Strategies for Developing Excellent Online Instructors

1. Promoting Excellence Online:How to Develop Excellent Online Instructors Rena M. Palloff, Ph.D. Fielding Graduate University and Crossroads West December 12, 2013 Sponsored by

2. Today’s Speakers Rena Palloff, Ph.D Faculty, Fielding Graduate University & Principal, Crossroads West rpalloff@fielding.edu Kenneth C. Green, moderator Founding Director The Campus Computing Project & Digital Tweed blogger @ Inside Higher Ed http://campuscomputing.net

3. Before We Begin Q & A • We are using Adobe Connect. Please enter questions in the text field at the bottom of the Q&A Window. We are monitoring the discussion and will try to bring the Q&A comments into the conversation. • We will not use the “raise your hand” feature. • We are recording the webinar; the webinar archive and slides will be available later today.

4. A Phased Approach to Faculty Development Personal Pedagogy Content Technology

5. Where do you see yourself? Are you a: • Visitor • Novice • Apprentice • Insider • Master

6. Assessing Instructor Readiness to Teach Online • Willingness to learn • Willingness to surrender some control over course design and customary teaching style • Ability to collaborate with peers • Willingness to move away from traditional instruction • Ability to build a support system • Patience with technology • Ability and willingness to learn from others outside the university and within (including students!

7. What Online Learners Want! • Clear instruction about course expectations and assignments • A high level of instructor interaction • A reasonable load in terms of reading, posting, email, and other assignments • Reassurance that their ideas are on track

8. More of What Online Learners Want! • Prompt, unambiguous feedback • An orientation to the technology in use and also to their classes • Technical support during the hours that they need it

9. Good Faculty Development Should Include: • Face-to-face and online sessions • Ability to work as a learner AND an instructor • Customization to instructor and institutional needs • Consideration of past online experience – remember those phases!

10. What Excellent Instructors Know • Use only the technology that serves learning objectives • Keeping it simple! • Web pages that don’t scroll forever • Limited (but appropriate) use of audio, video, synchronous and other multimedia

11. More of What Excellent Instructors Know • Use of intros, profiles, and bios to help create a learning community • Use of ice breaker activities • Use of experience-based exercises or activities • Use of a social area in the course • Basically – how to build a learning community!

12. More Best Practices • Post communication guidelines, including netiquette • Model good communication • Follow up with non-participants • Post clear expectations about assignment completion, participation, timelines, and posting requirements

13. Instructional Techniques to Support Online Learners • Ask open-ended questions to stimulate discussions and encourage reflection • Include a variety of assignments, such as case studies, small group work, simulations, and the like, to stimulate critical thinking • Vary course activities to address multiple learning styles, keep things interesting, and encourage engagement • Consider the use of mobile technology as a teaching tool and resource for assignment completion

14. Core Elements that Assist in Faculty Development Training for Excellence • Encourage self-assessment to see where instructors are and what they need • Create a support network • Design a mentorship program • Provide lots of support and feedback

15. What are your greatest training needs? • Personal • Pedagogical • Content • Technical

16. In addition… • Let them make mistakes! • Showcase success and excellence • Don’t force it! • Meet them where they are by using the phased approach • Treat instructors the way you want them to treat their students

17. Most Important… • Don’t go at this alone! Empower and use your MASTERS to help train the others! • Encourage self-development • Provide incentives like release time and food!

18. Some Final Tips • Don’t use cookie-cutter approaches • Don’t assume that novices will know what to do with little guidance • Align faculty training with the way that classes SHOULD be taught – use best practices in online teaching • Honor experience! • Use adult-oriented, constructivist approaches for training

19. A Model System for Faculty Development • Faculty community • Focus on excellence • Focus on ongoing training • Inclusive planning process • Support • Student satisfaction and performance

20. References and Resources • Lessons from the Virtual Classroom – 2nd Edition (2013) • The Excellent Online Instructor (2011) • Building Online Learning Communities – 2nd Edition (2009) • Assessing the Online Learner (2008) • Collaborating Online (2004) • The Virtual Student (2003) • Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom (2001) • Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace (1999) All are published by Jossey-Bass To Contact Rena: rpalloff@gmail.com or rpalloff@fielding.edu

21. Discussion Let’s talk among ourselves!

22. To Contact Rena If you’d like to be in touch after the webinar, you can reach me at: rpalloff@fielding.edu rpalloff@gmail.com Or follow me on Twitter: @renapalloff