Getting Ready to “Be There” with Learners

 

 

As an instructor new to online teaching, your first step is to understand the differences between face-to-face and online instruction. Instructional and technical support are key to your success in this new environment, as is the support of your organization. Developing an online course can be a challenge.Training is key to be better prepared to teach online and understand what presence means in the online environment, be able to create and incorporate presence into your online course, and be ready to deliver your course.

This training includes becoming familiar with the learning management system, its features, and its limitations. You can take scheduled training sessions or workshops or work closely with a learning designer who has learning management system expertise. Or you might team up with experienced colleagues who have created online courses that have proven to be effective.

After you have become familiar with and confident about the learning management system software, the next step is to identify an existing course that you plan to move to the online environment and start the design process. Check the graphic below; it provides a sample course design task and timeline for an existing course that is moving to the online environment.

Reference

 

Lehman, R. M., & Conceição, S. C. (2010). Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching: How to “Be There” for Distance Learners. Jossey-Bass.