Advancing Online Teaching

The goal ofteaching online is fundamentally the same as teaching face-to-face:facilitating the learning of allstudents to the greatest extent possible. This book differs from other books ononline teaching in that, in the process of offering guidance on course designand planning, developing outcomes and appropriate engaging activities, managingthe workload and assessment, the authors pay explicit attention throughout tothe distinct and diverse needs of students and offer effective strategies toaccommodate them in a comprehensive and inclusive way by using the principlesof Universal Design for Learning. By following thoseprinciples from the outset when planning a course, all students will benefit,and most particularly those whom the research shows have the greatest achievementgaps when taking online courses -- males, first generation and low incomestudents, those from underrepresented minority groups, the academicallyunderprepared, students with disabilities, and those with limited online accessor lacking readiness for online learning. Beyond goodplanning and design, Kelly and Zakrajsek offer ideas for creating inclusivecourse environments and activities, such as using culturally appropriate contentand making it accessible in multiple formats. They also share methods to fosterfaculty-learner interaction and increase personal connections with students,and among students, through group activities or learning communities, which areso critical to motivation and success. Faculty new toonline teaching as well as more experienced readers will find a wealth ofpractical guidance on developing and honing both fully online and blendedcourses and, as importantly, a wealth of proven ideas to help the newgeneration of students with diverse needs to succeed.