101 Suggestions for Successful 101 Suggestions for Successful Online Math Learning Online Math Learning

Presented at Presented at NYSMATYCNYSMATYC

Cortland, New YorkCortland, New YorkApril 8, 2006April 8, 2006

Mary Beth OrrangeProfessor of

Mathematics/Computer ScienceErie Community College

orrange@ecc.edu

Prepare YourselfPrepare Yourself

• Use web-assisted instruction in your seated Use web-assisted instruction in your seated classes before developing an online course.classes before developing an online course.

• Participate in an online course as a student.Participate in an online course as a student.• Review an established course site before Review an established course site before

organizing your own.organizing your own.• Be prepared before the course begins.  Have Be prepared before the course begins.  Have

your website ready to go and have someone your website ready to go and have someone check it for glitches check it for glitches

Get yourself ready to move into an online Get yourself ready to move into an online environment. environment.

Course DesignCourse Design TechniquesTechniques

• Keep your website simple and easy to Keep your website simple and easy to navigatenavigate

• Check and double check linksCheck and double check links• Use graphics sparingly to minimize Use graphics sparingly to minimize

download timedownload time• Accommodate different learning stylesAccommodate different learning styles• Link to other sites rather than restate Link to other sites rather than restate

contentcontent

Strategies for presenting your material Strategies for presenting your material online to improve student access and online to improve student access and

comprehension. comprehension.

Course DesignCourse Design TechniquesTechniques

• Recognize Copyright issuesRecognize Copyright issues

• Accommodate students with disabilitiesAccommodate students with disabilities

• Create an easy-to-read siteCreate an easy-to-read site– Arial FontArial Font– Color for emphasisColor for emphasis– Break up blocks of text with headers and Break up blocks of text with headers and

keywords keywords

Course OrganizationCourse Organization

• State clearly-defined goals, objectives, State clearly-defined goals, objectives, and activitiesand activities

• Remind students of deadlines via Remind students of deadlines via announcements and emailannouncements and email

Create course materials and activities for an Create course materials and activities for an online environment, to promote student-online environment, to promote student-student and student-faculty interaction, student and student-faculty interaction,

strategies for assessment (testing, quizzes, strategies for assessment (testing, quizzes, homework, discussion boards), student homework, discussion boards), student workload, and self-paced vs. scheduled workload, and self-paced vs. scheduled

courseworkcoursework

Course OrganizationCourse Organization

• Use a variety of tools to engage Use a variety of tools to engage students with mathematicsstudents with mathematics

– Discussions/postingsDiscussions/postings– ProjectsProjects– QuizzesQuizzes– Relevant websitesRelevant websites

• Set and maintain deadlinesSet and maintain deadlines

Course OrganizationCourse Organization

• Build interactivity into your course. Build interactivity into your course. Students need to interact with Students need to interact with

– ContentContent– InstructorInstructor– Each otherEach other

• Allow students to evaluate the website Allow students to evaluate the website as they go through the course and after as they go through the course and after the conclusion of the coursethe conclusion of the course

In the BeginningIn the Beginning

• Develop a student readiness checklistDevelop a student readiness checklist• Create an orientation to help students Create an orientation to help students

familiarize themselves with various types of familiarize themselves with various types of activities they will do in the courseactivities they will do in the course

• Develop and post a detailed course outline Develop and post a detailed course outline with a schedule of graded activitieswith a schedule of graded activities

• Develop a course information quiz for the first Develop a course information quiz for the first week of the semesterweek of the semester

• Post practice tests to familiarize students with Post practice tests to familiarize students with online testingonline testing

Get students active and able to be Get students active and able to be productive in your online course with a productive in your online course with a

minimum of confusion about what to do and minimum of confusion about what to do and how to do it how to do it

DiscussionsDiscussions

• Provide structure for discussions.

• Hold off on comments; very often students will guide and direct other students

• Provide model responses for discussion topics

Encourage student interaction and a sense of community in your online

course.

Testing and GradingTesting and Grading

• Post practice tests to familiarize students Post practice tests to familiarize students with online testingwith online testing

• Provide quick feedback on assignmentsProvide quick feedback on assignments

• Provide frequent opportunities for Provide frequent opportunities for assessmentassessment

• Post sample tests and review sheets Post sample tests and review sheets ahead of real testsahead of real tests

Suggestions to improve the online Suggestions to improve the online assessment process. assessment process.

What to tell your What to tell your studentsstudents

• Encourage your students to utilize live virus Encourage your students to utilize live virus updates updates

• Include the course name or number in the subject Include the course name or number in the subject line of any email sent regarding the online class.line of any email sent regarding the online class.

• Let students know what plug-ins or readers they Let students know what plug-ins or readers they must download or software they must have to must download or software they must have to access and use all of the online course materials.access and use all of the online course materials.

• Inform students of any on-campus responsibilities Inform students of any on-campus responsibilities they have they have

• Encourage students to have a back-up plan for Encourage students to have a back-up plan for computer problems computer problems

Details students will need to manage in the Details students will need to manage in the online environmentonline environment

Advice from fellow Advice from fellow studentsstudents

In your orientation, include In your orientation, include advice to prospective online advice to prospective online students from your students.students from your students.

Most of allMost of all

Enjoy the adventure!Enjoy the adventure!