COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This 30-hour equivalent online course includes in-depth modules providing an overview of the communications technologies used as the structure for online courses, programs, seminars, and other virtual classroom needs. The course also introduces teaching and learning models in the context of the virtual classroom, the teaching role, and the curriculum development process. Module topics include asynchronous and synchronous modes of communication, web-based resources, models of learning theory, models of teaching theory, the application of generative learning theory to online education, and formative evaluation.
The course is designed to provide students the opportunity to apply course topics to their particular areas of interest in curriculum development. The course covers technical subjects, but does not require a technical background for assimilation. As one of the required courses to obtain a certificate of completion in online teaching, this course establishes both a practical and theoretical base in distance education and serves as an introduction to the practical application courses offered in the certificate program. It is strongly recommended that this be the first course taken in the online certificate program.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
• Demonstrate an awareness of current topics in online teaching and learning theory through class discussions
• Meaningfully review at least two academic websites according to the level of appropriate application of online instructional models
• Meaningfully review at least one available web-based resource related to a specific learning environment
• Correctly use vocabulary appropriate for the online educational environment during discussions and on homework, midterm, and proposal assignments
• Engage in positive and meaningful dialogue with classmates concerning student projects
• Express interest in pursuing further study in online education
1) Reading assigned lectures, articles, and chapters
2) Responding online to discussion questions and answers regarding session topics
3) Visit and critique available web-based resources
4) Completing one weekly summary of class discussions and questions (collaborative)
5) Completing one final report comparing
two academic websites
Optional book:
Porter, Creating
the Virtual Classroom (isbn# 0-471-17830-6)
This book offers a general introduction to online programs. See the
posting within Embanet that tells you how to order this text.
COURSE EVALUATION:
Grades will be based on the following:
25% = Participation in course
sessions, (i.e., reading assigned online lectures, articles, and chapters,
completing homework assignments, participating in class discussions, reporting
progress to instructor, asking questions)
75% = Evidence of progress during course
on:
PROCEDURES:
The course week begins on Monday. The
last day of the week is Sunday. Each week we will post an overview of the
week's activities in the main conference area of Embanet. Each week's topics
and discussions are found in the subconference folder for that week.
All written assignments may be casual in tone, but they should be coherent
compositions. Follow the basic rules of essay writing. Give url addresses
for all web sites mentioned. Please proofread to remove distracting mistakes
and use complete sentences in your writing. For help with writing
or documentation visit the MLA Style guide online at http://www.mla.org/main_stl.htm
See Dr. Ko's webpages at http://home.earthlink.net/~susanko for some other guides to writing and documentation.
Readings:
All required readings are accessed online and are listed by week in the
"Course Schedule, Topics, Activities and Assignments by Week."
Course
Schedule, Activities and Assignments by Week: 
Follow this link to your working syllabus
for the class.
Contact us by email
susanko@earthlink.net
or Dale_Maeder@embanet.com
Created by Susan Ko, May 1998.