This article describes how faculty can complete many course design tasks with the help of generative AI tools (GenAI). This guidance provides examples of AI prompts following research-backed best practices for the design of quality educational experiences.
Continue readingProctorU is a service used to authenticate a user’s identity and provide live proctoring of online assessments. Test-takers use ProctorU’s Guardian Browser, which enhances exam security by preventing the user from accessing unauthorized resources and functions on their computer. ProctorU uses a multi-step process to establish a user’s identity: a live proctor sees the user via a webcam, takes the user’s photo, and checks the user’s ID. In addition to the authentication process, proctors ensure the integrity of the exam by using a webcam and screen-sharing technology to see the user and what they are doing during the exam session. This article is a guide for instructors implementing ProctorU in their course.
Continue readingVideos can be used for a variety of purposes in online courses, and different set-ups are required to achieve these goals. This article will review the types of videos used in online courses and provide examples.
Continue readingVideos are gaining ground in online education as a result of their versatility in promoting learning, satisfaction, engagement, and interest (LSEI; Costley & Lange, 2017). With this fast-growing dependence on videos, online educators need to become mindful of what constitutes quality videos and how they are best integrated into online content delivery and interaction.
This post is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) pertaining to creating videos for online courses.
Continue readingThe 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 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 readingStudent 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.
Faculty can use the strategies, tools, techniques and technologies available to them to help ensure academic integrity in online courses.
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