Do I really need to say more than this? Sure, we could argue semantics, statistics, etc. but why? when the fundamental issues are true.

Social Presence

Social presence and its effect on teaching and learning is critical in an online environment.

Articles of interest: Validating a Measurement Tool of Presence

Creating a Comprehensive Online Syllabus

Revising your face-to-face syllabus sounds easy, right?

You will need to consider several factors when creating an online syllabus. Remember all of the housekeeping issues you deal with at the beginning of each F2F class? Well, you will need to consider all of these issues in your online course up front…in the syllabus.

See the links below to review what to include and why. Remember your syllabus is the MOST important document in a course. Your course manifesto…

• Evaluate Your Syllabus

“An Evaluation of Online Syllabi…”
Article byy Teresa Welsh

• Planning the Course Syllabus

Center for Instructional Development and Research, University of Washington

• Course Design and Planning Materials

Center for Teaching Excellence, Cornell University

• Designing a Learning-Centered Syllabus

Center for Teaching Effectiveness University of Delaware

• Syllabus Writing 101

Faculty Development 101, Penn State World Campus

Synch/video conferenceing tools

• We demoed Nefsis today. I really liked the format and the multiple views for participants. It was easier to use than Live Classroom, but I need to know more about pricing and LMS integration. It allowed annotations and on-the-fly loading of materials, which is good. Cost could make it prohibitive. JUST LEARNED THAT NEFSIS IS NOT MAC COMPATIBLE.

• Also, heard about Agora which can be installed in Sakai our LMS. This is extremely important for student/faculty member seamless access. I need to learn more and confirm if our IT will integrate it in our Sakai at some point.

Synchronous Tools

Synchronous tools allow student and faculty members to connect in several ways with each other and course content.

The tool we use allows for a completely online, synchronous exchange of audio, text chat and PowerPoint/Images sharing and annotation. Each student has her own immediate feedback options that she can click to convey understanding. Students can log into the virtual Live Classroom from any computer in any location with a high-speed Internet connection.  It also has a function called “application sharing” which permits users to display their own computer screens.

Wimba Live Classroom is our current tool.

Why Live Classroom?

Snychronous Tools to check out

Possible tools to enhance DL communication or to replace Wimba?

ventrilo

http://www.ventrilo.com/purchase.php

Career Development

Staying current: http://www.oreillyschool.com/career/