3 tips Mike Salamanca

Course design should be shaped to the potentials of the medium

I think much too often facilitators try to treat distance classes as if they were actual in classroom classes which can not be duplicated. Instead a facilitator should maximize the tools that they are given with distance classes. For example, distance classes using adobe connect can easily duplicate the best aspects of in class meetings without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. In addition, BlackBoard can be used to do online chats and discussion boards.

Courses should cover all materials.

Course should cover all materials because it is what is expected out of the class. Not covering it would leave the student lacking some fundamental knowledge for the next class.

Faculty should retain creative control over use and re-use of materials.

Too often facilitators create a distance learning class and often regurgitate their contents over and over again. I have no problem with them reusing some of their work, but some of these pieces should never be reused because of their ineffectiveness. Facilitators should reflect on their courses after reusing it to determine what needs to be reworked and what can and should be used again.