Steps to Putting a Course Online
Getting started using technology in the classroom can be daunting! Where
do I start? How much work is this really going to be? The best thing you can
do to get started is to think small. What one new thing do
I want to try this semester?
- Many folks have started by putting their course syllabus and notes online
for students to access anytime they need them.
- Another good way to start is to put a presentation or two into PowerPoint
and try them out in a face-to-face class.
Once you get started, small steps lead to major progress. Check out some
of the workshops
and tutorials posted on this site. They have been designed or selected
to give you a place to start. And please contact STaR
(Scholarly Technology and Resources) for help too!
What follows is a timeline
for putting an entire course online that I shared with group of faculty who
were doing this for the very first time. They found it helpful as a way to
plan their time. I hope you do too.
Starting 6-9 months ahead of when will teach course for the first
time:
- Start with a course that you have taught before!
- Develop a plan by answering these questions:
- What do I want the students to know, be able to do, or to think as
a result of being in this course?
- What am I assuming about the students who will be in this course?
- What materials, etc., will I use to accomplish each objective/outcome?
- Which technology would be the best match for what I want to teach/
show/demonstrate/do?
- How much should I expect them to do? How about their work/time expectations?
- How much online material am I going to have to develop?
- How can I divide this work up into manageable pieces?
- How much time will this take?
About 2-6 months ahead:
- Construct modules as outlined in your plan
- Decide on testing/assignment format
- Load modules into course management system
- Test out individual course modules
- Remember to order texts or other materials included in your plan
In the month before teaching the course:
- Identify back-up strategies if/when there are major technical problems
- Include a FAQ page that includes what to do if X goes wrong
- Define clear classroom rules & guidelines
- Include the "Students with Disabilities" statement in the syllabus
The week before class starts:
- Try to contact each student as soon as possible, have the student roster
set up and a "Welcome to the Course" email or page
- If needing proctored testing, get students started on identifying suitable
proctor
- Try to get each student to log on at least once to make sure everything
is working
- Pat yourself on the back and take a deep breath!
- Remember the first time you taught a course!
During the 1st week of class:
- Start with first "assignment" of communicating with you and with other
students
- Try to establish sense of community
- Double-check for technical deficits/problems before a major assignment
is due
- Include a course navigation exercise
- Plan on at least one disaster!
- Set realistic goals regarding content objectives
Scholarly Technology and Resources
Dickinson Hall, Room 105
501.569.8954
star@ualr.edu
