Baha--3 Tips

1. Faculty must be provided adequate training and technical support—in terms of hardware, software and troubleshooting.

This is crucial to the success of the class—for both instructors and students. In my time at SDSU, I have seen several instructors waste class time because the technology necessary to conduct the course is not set up properly. It makes me wonder who is supporting the technologies we use in the SDSU EDTEC classes? And, above that particular IT person, who is in charge of ensuring this technical support is provided for the instructors?

2. Faculty members developing distance education courses should approach course design—curriculum planning, class projects, visual aids, library materials and student interaction—not in terms of replicating the traditional classroom, but in terms of maximizing the potential of the medium that will be employed.

This is a challenging task as it requires a paradigm shift in the way instructors view “teaching”; including, teaching materials. Strategies and structure that work for a synchronously-led traditional classroom setting are probably not going to transfer well into the online/virtual classroom. So, in the planning and design phase, it is critical for instructors to master the technology used to conduct an online class. That way, through knowing the features and functions of the web conferencing tool, instructors will create a curriculum that includes an appropriate array of strategies and materials.

3.Students Must Fully Understand Course Requirements and Be Prepared To Succeed

Students have a serious responsibility when it comes to being prepared to learn in an online environment. It’s not just as easy as walking into a class and sitting there—speaking, of course, about a traditional classroom setting. Students need to validate that they have the proper technology to participate as well as an understanding of how to be a participant in an online environment, if that is new to them.