Instructional Skills Workshop Online - SEPT2014-OER

Learning Themes

Build & sustain online community

• Recognize and assess community-building elements and strategies in the design of online learning activities and courses
• Use appropriate strategies to support diverse communities of online adult learners

Manage the online course environment

• Use appropriate strategies and tools to establish and maintain instructor presence, and support learning and community goals
• Articulate rationale for instructional choices (including tool selection)

Overview

While ISWO is about facilitating online rather than about designing and developing courses, sometimes instructors hired to teach an existing course want to ‘spruce it up’ a bit. That might mean just updating a few readings or adding a video resource.  But it might also mean using a new tool for an activity or even creating a new learning activity.

When selecting the right tool or mode for a part of the course a couple of things are important:

1. Knowing about a range of tools gives an instructor a larger toolbox from which to select
2. Thinking hard about the purpose and desired outcomes will drive the selection of tools
3.  It is okay to get creative and playful

Caution: Many free tools have limitations to encourage people to upgrade to paid options. Check out the terms of use before you commit your learners. Many free tools have social networking options embedded; make sure you know how "open" a session or creation will be.

Week 3 Activities

Week 3 Mini-Session Activities (Participants)

Week 3 Mini Session Planning (Facilitators)

Reminder:  Ongoing Activities

Post "nuggets" in the Weekly Journal Share forum, self-assess your participation, and collect ideas and resources for a final reflective activity in Week 5.

Post your feedback to mini-session facilitators. 

If you facilitated this week, complete your FLIF (Feel, Like, Improve, Feedback)