August 2005

Online Classroom - August 2005 - Full Issue
…

Humor Increases Student Participation in Online Courses
The use of humor in an online course can increase students’ participation, according to a recent study by Mark Shatz and Frank LoSchiavo, two Ohio University psychology professors.

Motivating Participation in Online Discussion
Lucia Vanderpool, associate professor at Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis, Tenn., didn’t see the value of online discussion in her online and hybrid courses when she began teaching them in 1999. Now, however, she considers online discussion “the most important feature used in online courses.”

Tips from the Pros - Save Time on Grading Essay Test Questions
Although course management systems can streamline the grading process by providing immediate feedback on multiple-choice tests and quizzes, multiple-choice questions alone may not suit the needs of your course.

How Scalable is Your Online Course?
Online course scalability—the degree to which an online course can be designed to accommodate larger or more sections of online courses without sacrificing quality—depends on how expert-dependent the course is, its delivery methods, and the amount of resources available to support the unbundling of the instructor’s roles, according to Suzanne Dunn, director of product design at the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications of the Dallas County Community College District.

Creating an Active Online Learning Environment
Kristopher Wiemer, instructional technology specialist at Philadelphia University, encourages instructors to adopt active-learning strategies such as hands-on activities, interaction, and research “to make sure students are engaged and aren’t just sitting there like sponges.”

Effective Strategy for Providing Prompt Feedback on Writing Assignments When Teaching Courses Online
By Francis C. Pengitore, Ed.D.
There is little argument about the importance of providing meaningful feedback to students that is timely, specific, and constructive. It is likely the most powerful tool that can be used to regularly improve performance and to promote progress (Wlodkowski, 1999). Teaching online adds the further challenge of providing these evaluations in unambiguous terms via the Internet to a potentially large number of students. Failure to offer comments on work submitted online is no different than ignoring a student’s raised hand in a classroom.

Modifying Online Courses
Online courses, like face-to-face courses, need to be modified regularly to reflect changes in the subject matter, feedback from peers and students, and the instructor’s observations. Some of these changes are routine, such as changing assignment due dates. Others can significantly improve the learning experience. In both cases, course changes should be systematic to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.