Pivoting to Online Teaching: Research and Practitioner Perspectives

In this course, participants will explore research-informed, effective practices for online teaching and learning. By enrolling, you will learn practical ways to quickly move into teaching online, guided by top scholars and practitioners in the field. Each module, you will watch videos and read articles by online learning experts and participate in activities and discussions covering critical topics that will make the online environment a rich learning experience for your students. The instructors will synthesize relevant resources to help those who are new to online learning and those who have experience, but want to expand their skills and provide support for others. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, share practices that have worked well in online learning environments, and receive feedback on your teaching and learning plans.

Given recent global developments related to COVID-19, many have rapidly shifted to move teaching online. For those who have not taught online before, this can be a challenging experience. Fortunately, there is a rich research base, dating back over sixty years, that provides insight and guidance on the key factors that enable successful learning online. This course will support the pivot to online learning by exploring the scientific literature as well as practical actions that enable online success and equitable outcomes for all learners.

While the target audience of the course is postsecondary institutions, this course will be of use to anyone moving into online teaching and learning.

Module 0: Preparing for the Course
Module 1: Getting Started Quickly
Module 2: Content Creation
Module 3: Fostering Interaction
Module 4: Assessment
Module 5: Moving Forward and Blended Learning