TIDE 2005
Best Practices of Online Classes

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Readiness
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Lucy Student
Stories
" What's
a word processor?"
"It comes through the air."
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Pedagogy before Technology

Yes. I can print my name upside down, but does it make sense to
do that? Ergo, pedagogy before technology!
Pedagogical models
- Student Centered Learning
- Group Centered Learning
- Online Supplemental/ dependent courses
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The Big Picture - what are the components of an online class?
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A Sense of Place
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"Prelection"
Frank Christ's and the Jesuit's term for explanation,
as distinct from lecture. Frank uses prelections to assist students
to read course material.
Lucy uses 2 techniques: 
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Field
Trips - links to handouts from colleges around the world to further
explain the concepts of a Study Skills class.
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Developing questions for reading assignments using Bloom's
taxonomy
Note: this was designed as a taxonomy, not a hierachy.
Goldilocks
version
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Frank uses a picture of him at the lecturn talking directly to the
class. Very powerful!
WebCam presentation
by the Math teacher showing other faculty how it is done!
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Outside Experts
Frank uses Visiting Scholars, who for a week will reply to student questions.
Lucy was a visiting scholar in Frank's class, when she was in Australia!
Lucy uses the author of the textbook for the study skills class and
study skills tutors from other colleges, especially Universities. For
the Trio students who are preparing to transfer from the community college
to the university, tutors from the university are very validating. This
does not mean that they tutor the community college students, only that
they are guests presenters.
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Giving Feedback on assignments
It may seem rudimentary, but each paper turned in needs to be acknowledged,
just so the student knows that it has been received. "Your project
has just arrived and I'm excited to read your proposal on ..."
Let students know the timelines on feedback. Although
many nowadays want instant feedback, if they know what the timelines
are, they don't fret as much. Of course, Lucy says "first in,
first out.!"
Make some assignments public for feedback from other
students.
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Developing Course assessments to improve subsequent courses
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Sharing performance tips to appropriate assignments
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Using Bonus Quick Reply questions
This ties in with Frank's real world simulations in his graduate school
classes.
Suddenly the Dean needs the learning center stats on his desk
tomorrow morning. Student needs to give a quick reply for the simulation
that they are working on!
Lucy uses Bonus Points for the first one answering the discussion question
for the week.
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Making course material real
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Teacher Resources
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