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Critical Competenies for Teaching Online

03-online learning and resource production
Image by leighblackall via Flickr

Recently, Larry Ragan, Director of Faculty Development for Penn State’s World Campus, was asked “how would you rank the critical competencies for teaching online?  Here are the 6 he identified:

1. Teaching and Learning

  • State objectives, expectations, & policies
  • Establish communication rules & group decision-making norms
  • Give prompt, effective feedback

2. Technology Aptitude

  • Know the LMS
  • Seek technology assistance
  • Be creative and flexible

3. Classroom Administration/ Management

  • Check & manage roster
  • Submit grades according to University policy
  • Manage drop/adds

4. Faculty Workload Management

  • Define time frames
  • Develop schedule & responsibilities
  • Communicate expectations

5. Building Community

  • Foster dialog & interaction
  • Provide for “space” for instructional & social interactions

6. Attitude/Philosophy

  • Be open minded
  • Take some risks
  • Be willing to fail (with support net!)

Read the full article from the Distance Education Report, November 15, 2009

How Would You Rank the Critical Competencies for Teaching Online? (pdf)

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Predictors of Success for Online Learners

Online Student
Uploaded to Flickr on March 20, 2008 by Mr_Stein

I just came across this interesting article in the Journal of Educator’s Online: July 2006 edition: Engaging Learner Attribute Research in Dialogue with Classroom Practice: Predictors of Success in the Accelerated, Online Classroom reported on a sample of online faculty response to the question “What do you see as the five factors most likely to predict a student’s successful completion of an online course?”

Of six identified themes, four issues emerged as the most relevant to the issue of online learner success:
•    Time
•    Technology Literacy
•    Initiative
•    Competence

According to the 96 instructor respondents, the most successful online learners:
•    Participate early and often
•    Practice effective time management strategies
•    Take the initiative to solve problems and ask questions
•    Demonstrate basic levels of technical proficiency in the online environment
•    Are competent writers and communicators.

In addition, instructors cited several other competencies that contribute to success in the online classroom: focus on detail, awareness of institutional support services,  successful completion of prerequisite coursework, and critical thinking skills.

“While these factors are not unique to the online classroom, they are especially important in a learning environment that forces students to work more independently and autonomously.” (p.9)

UBC’s Office of Learning Technology recognizes the importance of both learner competencies and instructor competence in creating a learning environment that supports the development of some of the competencies that have been highlighted here.  Resources that you may find useful to incorporate in your course include:

8 Things to Get a Handle On: Online Learner Competencies

Learners’ Links (included in WebCT/Vista course environments developed by OLT).

Online Teaching Modules: a work in progress – first phase to be complete in fall 2009 and integrated into the Online Teaching Orientation course in WebCTVista.

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Summer Term Coming Soon!




Magnolias

Originally uploaded by sparklefish.

Summer session is approaching and no doubt you are preparing for a new section as you finish grading final exams!

Your start of term checklist (for distance education) can provide you with some tips for ensuring that all of the pieces are in place for the teaching of your online or print based course this summer. The full pdf is attached below.

Here are some highlights:

Things to check 2 weeks before your course starts:

Exams: If you have an invigilated exam as part of your course, Enrolment Services (Sheila.williamson@ubc.ca)) will schedule it and arrange for an invigilator. You will need to provide an exam for your course (or use a previously developed version). Contact Enrolment Services Sheila.williamson@ubc.ca
Orientation to Online Learning: Your students will have access to a self-directed, online orientation site in WebCt or Vista (depending on which platform you use for course delivery). If you’d like access to this, contact our helpdesk (dethelpdesk@exchange.ubc.ca) with your CWL.
Review your course site and check links: This is your opportunity to ensure that any previously requested changes have been made and that all links in the course are active and working.

Things to check at the start of term:
View your class list from the Faculty Service Centre
Send a welcome email to students. Send a welcome email to students by using the email feature from the FSC. This is an important first step in building online rapport with your students and encouraging early login to the course.

Things to check at the close of registration:
Check your class list on the FSC against your WebCT class list after the close of registration to ensure that any students who have dropped are indicated as such on your list and denied access to your course site (your web programmer can help with this).
Send a follow up email to any students who have not yet logged into the course or whom you have not heard from.

What’s Important About the FSC and Distance Education?

The Faculty Service Centre offers special features for the distance course sections to allow instructors access to student contact info. Just click on the student number for the student you want to contact and a window will appear with all relevant contact details.

Start of Term Checklist pdf

Happy Spring!

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Teaching & Learning with Technology Series

Teaching & Learning with Technology (TLT) Series

GUSSE: Teaching and Learning with Social Bookmarking
Thursday October 26, 2006, 10am-12noon
Telestudios, 2329 West Mall (University Services Building), Rm #0110,
Lower Level

GUSSE is an innovative application of “social bookmarking” for collective knowledge building at a global scale. We will explore how this same technology is being applied for community engagement as well as teaching and learning at UBC.

Speakers:
David Vogt, Director of Digital Learning Projects, Faculty of Education
Lee Iverson, Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering

Register now

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e-Learning Institute hands-on sessions

Please join us for the following e-learning events. Details and registration links are below.

e-Learning Institute (eLI)

UBC’s e-Learning Institute is leading a series of hands-on WebCT workshops aimed at helping instructors develop and manage their courses in WebCT. Sessions are scheduled for the week of October 16th and cover the basics of setting up a WebCT course, managing day-to-day instructional tasks and promoting community in your online course through the use of communication tools. Also, a special seminar session is planned that will give instructors an early look at WebCT Vista.

Register now, space is limited.

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