Self-Paced Online Teaching Workshop Presented by OSU's Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Why This Workshop Matters: More than 6.3 million students in the United States took at least one college course online in 2016. The number of students taking online courses has risen every year since the early part of this century and it shows no signs of slowing down (Friedman, 2018). As college instructors deal with this changing nature of modern education it is critical that they have a plan for designing effective online courses, are considering ways of engaging their online students, know how to design lessons and assessments, and understand how to use technology to enhance their instruction. This Workshop is designed to meet those needs and much more as well, and connect you with a network of individuals with whom you can ask questions and share ideas.

Friedman, J. (2018) Study: More students are enrolling in online courses. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/higher-education/online-education/articles/2018-01-11/study-more-students-are-enrolling-in-online-courses

Simon Ringsmuth simon.ringsmuth@okstate.edu

(405) 744-1000

Purpose The purpose of this workshop is to provide faculty with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach in an online environment.

Key areas of focus include:

Course Design

Engaging Online Students

Creating Effective Video Lectures

Investigating Canvas

Creating an Online Activity and Assessment

Communication I do my best to prioritize emails from my students, and to help make sure I answer your questions as soon as possible make sure to put "SPOTW" in the subject line of your email. For example:

SPOTW: Question about Module 2

SPWOTW: Videoconference Issue

I will respond to emails within two business days.

Structure This Workshop is entirely online and consists of several discrete modules that Participants will complete in order. Each Module contains instructions in the form of a video and a written document, along with Readings or other supplemental materials. Participants may take as long as they need to complete the course, but most individuals finish the work in a few weeks.

Participants can expect to spend 2-3 hours per module. Please plan your time accordingly.

Online Learning Assessment Portfolio Throughout this Workshop, Participants will create a document containing the results of each activity required by the modules. This will be a Microsoft Word document that contains written sections as well as links to deliverables that will be created throughout the Workshop upon completion of each Module. After completing all Modules, each Participant will submit his or her Portfolio via a link in the final Module.

Prerequisites No prior knowledge or experience is required, though the material is designed for instructors who will be teaching online. Any computer with an internet connection will suffice.

Videoconference After completing all the required work in each Module, and after submitting the Online Learning Assessment Portfolio, the instructor will contact the Participant to set up a time to visit using a Microsoft Teams videoconference. This is meant to be an informal office hours-style conversation to discuss the Participant's experience in the Workshop, go over the deliverables in the Portfolio, and offer feedback and suggestions that the Participant can use when teaching online.

Survey The first Module contains a survey that will help the instructor understand a little more about each Participant: teaching experience, confidence level, etc. A similar survey will be taken at the end of the Workshop in order to measure learning progress and gauge the efficacy of the Workshop.

“I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.” - Elon Musk

Grading Each Participant will receive is a Completion grade for the Online Learning Assessment Portfolio. After finishing this deliverable, and following the videoconference with the instructor, Participants will receive a certificate from OSU's Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence showing evidence of success in the Workshop.

Instructor Expectations Participants can expect the instructor of this class to provide thorough and accurate instructions, be respond in a timely manner to questions, and offer assistance when needed. Due to the self-paced nature of the course the Instructor will not be present on a daily basis as in a normal synchronous online class, but the Instructor will attend to the needs and concerns of the Participants as situations warrant. The Instructor will treat each Participant fairly and with the highest degree of professionalism, and refrain from using sarcasm or belittling words in written, oral, and other forms of communication.

Participant Expectations Participants in this Online Teaching Workshop are expected to be active learners and engage with the Workshop and fellow Participants are expected to be present on a continual and consistent basis. Participants are expected to be self-motivated learners who will put in 2-3 hours for each Module doing readings, engaging with the material, and exploring various facets of online education. Participants will be challenged to think about online education in new ways and examine new techniques for creating dynamic and engaging online learning environments.

"What you put into life is what you get out of it" -Clint Eastwood

Disability Statement Any student in this Workshop who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact the Office of Student Disability Services at 315 Student Union before the end of the first week of the class. For more information about OSU Student Disability Services, please go to:

sds.okstate.edu/content/view/17/30/

Canvas Support For help with using Canvas visit

https://itle.okstate.edu/Canvas.vbhtml

If you need further assistance, contact:

canvas@okstate.edu or call (405) 744-1000.

For your students, please ask them to contact: helpdesk@okstate.edu or call (405) 744-4357

Academic Integrity Academic integrity is expected in this Workshop, just as you expect from your own students. Please familiarize yourself with the Oklahoma State University Academic Integrity Policies found at: academicintegrity.okstate.edu

The Bottom Line Online Instruction skills are highly sought after by OSU and other universities, and my job as your instructor is help prepare you for the challenges and opportunities this medium offers. All the elements of this Workshop are designed to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to be a better online instructor. I don't give useless assignments, and I don't like grading busy-work. The things we do in this class have a purpose beyond just a letter grade, and I hope this class is a challenging and rewarding experience for you.