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EDTC 7320 -- Web Teaching: Design and Development

This page is my descriptive guide and approach to how I teach this course.

Prerequisite: EDTC 6020 Principles of Instructional Design.

Sample Course Topics

• Examining and using Internet tools (e-mail, ftp, chat, listserv, threaded discussions, etc.) for instruction
• Instructional design principles for developing online instruction
• Online interaction, collaboration, and group dynamics
• Research on online instruction
• Role of student and teacher in online instruction
• Emerging trends and tools in online instruction
• The nature, functionality, and constraints of the web as an environment for learning
• The affordances and constraints of course managment systems

Sample Class Assignments

1. Class Activities and Participation: online activities, readings, discussion, chat, etc.
2. Annotated Bibliography
3. Web-Based Instructional Unit
4. Exam

Class activities and participation

Normally, in a face-to-face class you would listen to a lecture for a couple of hours and then, have class discussion. However, in an online class, you will be a much more active participant in your learning experience. Participation will be electronic (i.e., individual e-mail messages, class discussions). Be sure to check your email regularly.

In this course you will work collaboratively with partners and in groups. This is not to torture you, but rather to encourage your learning. The collaborative aspects of this course are quite intentional, and well-planned (not busy work). Learning research has consistently shown that collaborative activities build community and contribute to learning. This course is not self-paced.

Weekly assignments will include readings, computer and Internet activities, working with partners and groups, occasional real-time chats, threaded discussions, etc. These activities are scored on a 0 to 2 scale. Due to the time-sensitive nature of these activities, late submissions are not considered (in other words they are a 0). Stay on time and on track out of respect for your fellow classmates.

Annotated Bibliography

You will create and publish an informative bibliography about a particular topic relevant to online instruction. The topic must be approved by me.

Choose from one of these approved topics. Other topics are possible, but must have approval by me.

• evaluating online instructors
• evaluating online courses
• best practices in online university graduate courses
• who should design online courses
• role of the faculty member in course design
• instructor workload issues in online instruction
• instructor time management in online instruction
• instructional use of weblogs
• instructional use of wikis
• instructional use of other emerging tools, such as social software
• open source course management systems
• effect of course management systems on course design

Your document will be published as HTML. You will upload your document on the Web and link it to your course page. Design and construct the HTML page using any web editor you like.

Your annotated bibliography will include:

• a title indicating your project topic
• your name and the course name
• a list of references (in APA style 5th edition) of 10 peer-reviewed articles or scholarly books on your topic . The large majority of your references must come from the best journals in instructional design and technology and distance education. Many journals in other fields publish articles about online instruction, but they are often of questionable quality.
• links to these articles (if they are available online). Note: at this point, most of the best journals in IDT are not online. You will need to visit a library to complete this assignment.
• a 100 to 150 word summary and critique for each article, describing and critiquing the content and why we should read it
• a list of 10 to 12 additional links to sites that represent other resources besides journal articles and books. These sites must be directly related to your topic.
• a 100 to 150 word paragraph describing each linked site and why it is important to your chosen topic.

Instructional Unit

Follow these steps to complete this assignment:

1. Select an area of expertise that you can teach online. Write your instructional goals and objectives.
2. Select an audience for the instruction. Get approval from me on topic and audience.
3. Create a simple unit plan (lesson plan) for your unit. Write this lesson plan (300-400 words) and publish it as HTML. Link it to your launch page. Your unit plan should include a description of the unit, the objectives, the audience, and the instructional activities.
4. Design a "unit" of instruction. I suggest 10 contact hours, or one week (as demonstrated in this course) for the length and scope of your unit. This instruction will be web-based. Note that you choose the role of the instructor and the students. You instruction may require extensive human interaction or none--its up to you.
5. You decide all the variables: teaching methods, instructional strategies, theoretical foundation, learning theory orientation, role of instructor, role of student, learning activities, etc.
6. Post your instructional unit on the web and link it to your launch page.

Requirements for your HTML Documents:

1. I'm not looking for bells and whistles. Content is king. Clarity is queen.
2. At least three separate HTML documents. Do not create one long scrolling document.
3. Links between each document, and links to external Web sites.
4. A clear indication of the instructional goals, and its intended audience, and its important content
5. A clear, consistent navigation scheme that is at the top or top left of each page. Navigating you site should be easy and clear.
6. Consistent and conservative use of text fonts and sizes, so your text does not detract from the visual appeal and continuity of your site.
7. Consistent and conservative use of color, so your site is attractive, and does have a random color scheme.
8. Consistent and conservative use of images (a few).
   1. No flashing, beeping, or looping animated images or text unless they are absolutely crucial to your instruction.
   2. Avoid mixing of image types. Types include hand drawings, line art, photographs, etc. Be consistent.
9. No audio, video, or other rich media unless it is absolutely crucial to your instruction.
10. Information on site creator, creation date, and when last updated.

Exam

Every exam I give is very intentionally designed from an instructional standpoint to be a learning experience. You will be called upon to user higher-order thinking skills to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills you have developed during this course.

You will complete the exam on your own, using any materials or resources you choose except other persons. You can use any text, web resource, course material, etc. The exam will consist of several essay questions. You will use a word processor. The questions will come from your readings in the textbook, as well as your readings and learning experiences in this course. Some of the questions will require responses that are specific to your own instructional environment.

Some sample questions:

1. What qualities should an online instructor possess?
2. What qualities should an online student possess?
3. What technical skills and competencies does an online instructor need?
4. What technical skills and competencies does an online student need?
5. How is teaching online different from teaching in person?
6. How is learning online different from learning in person?
7. Name some common mistakes new online instructors make.
8. What are the keys to planning an effective online course?
9. How can online instructors best facilitate student learning?
10. Which instructional strategies are effective, and which are ineffective online, and why?
11. How can the online instructor get students to interact? Is interaction important? Why?

Sample Required Materials and Texts

1. Collaborating Online : Learning Together in Community
   Rena M. Palloff, Keith Pratt. Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 0787976148
2. Other readings as assigned.

Sample Schedule