25 Simple Rules for Teaching an Online College Class or for incorporating DL elements into a facetof

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25 Simple Rules for Teaching an On-line College
Class (or for incorporating DL elements into a
face-to-face class)

• Presented byCourtney J. Ruffner

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Before the Class Begins

• 1. Send an introduction letter via snail mail so
  that the students know what they are getting into
  by having registered for your DL or Hybridclass.
  
• 2. Create an orientation to the course in text
  format even if you meet the class for a
  face-to-face orientation.
• 3. Create a generic message (which you can reuse
  each semester) concerning how to access and
  navigate the course.
• 4. Make sure that your rules, deadlines, and
  grading policies are consistent and clearly
  defined.

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At the Beginning of the Class

• 5. Have specific due dates for all assignments,
  including time of day, for example, 2 p.m. on
  Wednesday, October 19th. Remind students that
  emails and discussion boards include exact
  posting times. Have grade penalties for late
  assignments clearly outlined.
• 6. Keep frequent contact with students. Promise
  to check the website (d-board and email) during
  virtual office hours in addition to once per
  working day. You might check the board and email
  more often, but the more you promise, the more
  restrictions you place on yourself.

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Throughout the Course

• 7. If you will be away from your computer for a
  few days, let students know so they will not
  panic.
• 8. When informing students of any change, do so
  through several modesemail, post on
  announcements page or homepage, post on d-board.
• 9. Have an alternative way of getting information
  to students in case the primary course program is
  down (alternate email addresses or post messages
  to a website index page)

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Tip Number 10

• Instruct students in netiquette

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Tip Number 11

• Instruct students on the art of Threading
  Messages

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Tip Number 12, 13, and 14

• It is always a good idea to begin the class with
  a thread on the d-board reserved for
  introductions. Students are able to see who is
  in the class and who has similar career and
  personal interests.
• Have a thread on your d-board open for
  Questions, Comments, Concerns, and Complaints
  students like the opportunity to be able to voice
  their concerns and get an immediate responses to
  their questions without having to call or stop by
  to see the instructor.
• If you are using the quiz / exam feature in your
  course management system, set up a mock quiz so
  that students can get used to how to take an exam
  in the system before making them take a major
  exam without experiencing the system.

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Tip Number 15

• Do CATS (Classroom Assessment Techniques) Ask
  the students for feedback theyll tell it like
  it is!

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Tip Number 16

• Dont forget to teach the students. Post
  lectures about the material that was assigned for
  class. Dont just answer individual questions
  about it.

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Tip Number 17 and 18

• Know when and how to answer an angry email from
  a student.
• Recognize that every DL / Hybrid class is
  different.

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Tip Number 19 - 23

• 19. Add a Resources Page.
• 20. Provide examples for assignments.
• 21. Use the strikeout feature on your daily
  schedule so that students are giving a visual
  chart of the course progress.

• 22. Check all external links to make sure they
  connect.
• 23. Back up the course frequently, especially
  after making changes or adding grades.

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Tip Number 24

• Make your course ADA compliant in the beginning.

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Tip Number 25

• Be careful with bells and whistles even if you
  know how to use them effectively. Students are
  not always able to access material that has been
  digitized. Do not let technology get in the way
  of teaching and learning.

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Session Evaluation

• Thank You