We embrace a remote teaching and learning environment at this time. Consider 10 online teaching tips, and the MSHE context of each tip, based on insight from Dr. Michael Wesch, professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University.
While these tips have responded well with students, we appreciate your comfort level and willingness in adopting online teaching techniques.
Top 10 Online Teaching Tips
| Teaching Tip | MSHE Context |
|---|---|
Simplify structure. | We recently restructured Canvas content to modules. This linear format allows students to follow course progress. The design is also responsive to device type, meaning students should have similar experiences with content whether they use a laptop, tablet, or cell phone. We also eliminated Canvas menu items that students don't use. |
First impressions matter. | We provide friendly, timely, and informative course welcome announcements. Consult Chris if you want to consider more creative ways to communicate a welcome and course expectations. |
Justify your decisions. | Be clear about why you chose certain textbooks, readings, assessments, and rubrics. Use course description and learning outcomes as a starting point in legitimizing your approach. Your experiences, as they relate to course content, also count! |
Build community with video introductions. | Our use of Flipgrid satisfies building community with video introductions. Live Zoom introductions are also useful in building community in remote learning. |
Discussion about discussions. | Set expectations on how you want students to engage as well as communicate with you and one another. This can include sharing of personal perspective, respecting others' contributions, and even how students should raise their hand. |
Weekly overviews. | Our session pages in Canvas provide students a plan for before and during each live meeting. |
Don't waste their time. | Courses each require a certain amount of contact time, whether that's scheduled class meetings, group meetings, or otherwise engaging in material outside of scheduled class time. Consult Chris on what instructional flexibility you have beyond class lecture time. |
Provide a diverse set of prep work platforms. | Consider text, video, practice quizzes, and even access to free text-to-speech software to accommodate different learning styles. |
Respond freely to student questions and insights. | Be open and sincere when responding to student questions and clarifications. Be empathetic in your interactions. |
Get feedback often and use it to improve as you go. | Students want to be heard, and that you use constructive feedback when appropriate. Students value growth during the process, not just at the end where any course improvements won't help them. |
Watch Dr. Wesch’s entire video on 10 online teaching tips here.