Margaret Fraiser

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Challenges and Strategies for Teaching Online
Courses

• Margaret Fraiser
• UW-Milwaukee

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Online Courses What are they?

• Online Courses 100 of classroom time replaced
  by online assignments and activities.
• Blended Courses 20 of classroom time replaced
  by online assignments and activities.

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Online Courses What are the benefits?

• Students can learn anywhere at any time.
• Multimedia.
• Bridges geographical distances.
• Faster, cheaper than traditional learning.
• Flexibility.
• Responds to different learning techniques.
• Increased access.

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Online Courses What are the drawbacks?

• Students must be self-starters.
• Sense of isolation.
• Health-related concerns.
• Can you think of others?

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Online Courses Why are they significant?

• Becoming a prominent mode of programming and
  delivery in education.
• E-learning will be the norm.

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Online Courses Can geosciences be taught online?

• YES!
• Think about
• Digital content.
• Assessment.
• Interactivity.
• What course(s) do you think would work well as an
  online class?

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Online Courses Where to start?

• How do I
• Deliver content?
• Find context?
• Make sure they get it?
• Keep students engaged?
• Provide structure and flexibility?

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Online Courses Start with your objectives

• Upon completion of the course, it is expected
  that learners will be able to
• Conduct a literature review.
• Analyze data.
• Identify minerals.
• What are the objectives for your course(s)?

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Online Courses Create activities

• Build assignments that encourage students to
  engage with course content.
• Include detailed instructions, clear deadlines
  and expectations.
• Examples
• Quizzes
• Individual reflections
• Discussion posts (questions and responses)
• What sorts of activities would be best for your
  course?

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Online Courses Assessment

• Use tools that provide frequent, low stakes
  numerical and narrative feedback.
• Aim at assessing performance, indicating areas
  for improvement.
• What methods of assessment would you like to use?

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Online Courses What types of digital content
can you use?

• Create of find rich and interactive media, video
  clips, audio clips, animations, etc.
• Establish instructor presence.
• What types of content would work for your course?

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Online Courses-Further information

• http//serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online/ind
  ex.html