The Course Facilitation Plan (CFP) outlines the key steps to take before, during, and after your course implementation, presented in the recurring course life-cycle, as well as recognizing the four roles of an online instructor. Download a copy of the file to create your own customized version.
Continue readingCommunication with students is a key part of Managing Your Online Course; this post has email and announcement templates and examples to aid with that communication.
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Asynchronous communication in online courses takes place via a variety of tools, such as announcements, rubrics, email, discussions, audio feedback, video feedback, etc. The learning benefits of regular communication with students in an online course are often overlooked by faculty. Effective and regular messaging is essential for an inclusive, motivated and engaged learning community. This post reviews guidelines for communicating with your students online.
Continue readingVoiceThread is an asynchronous discussion and presentation tool that is integrated into HuskyCT (Blackboard). A VoiceThread is a collaborative multimedia slide-based presentation that can include materials such as PowerPoint slides, images, documents, videos, audio files, and other audio-visual content. Users can engage with the content and each other using video-, audio-, and text-based interactions. Online instructors can leverage VoiceThread to create asynchronous discussions, deliver interactive lectures, or facilitate group projects. Its flexibility supports diverse learning styles and encourages participation, making it an ideal tool for building community in online courses.
Continue readingThe purpose of this article is to guide the University community as faculty seek methods of verifying student identity in distance learning and online courses. These guidelines were designed to meet NECHE accreditation standard 4.48 and federal requirements under Sec. 602.17(g)of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Additionally, these guidelines are designed to meet Department of Homeland Security requirements for international students in online and remote learning environments.
Student engagement is essential to effective teaching, but it can feel more elusive in online environments. Instructors often wonder how to foster interaction, ensure students engage with course materials and build a vibrant learning community. This article provides practical, actionable strategies for increasing student engagement in online course modalities.
What skills does an instructor need to succeed with an online or hybrid course? The UConn Competencies for Online and Hybrid/Blended Instruction survey includes 27 competencies to inform and facilitate self-assessment. The second edition takes into account developments in higher education since the COVID pandemic.
This post is a resource for faculty teaching online graduate and certificate programs as well as the various staff and administrators who support these programs. It is intended to provide information and guidance around roles and procedures that will help faculty be most effective in preparing to design, develop, and teach online.
Continue readingOnline discussions are used to build dynamic learning communities, to synthesize key concepts, and to promote critical thinking skills. This article highlights tips for successfully facilitating online discussions.
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This article explains rubrics, types of rubrics, outlines how rubrics may benefit both faculty and students, and provides a few HuskyCT example rubrics.
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