Teaching Online

Teaching classes online simplifies the education process. Now just about anyone can take a class in a variety of subjects, day or night, from the comfort of their laptop.

In order to teach an online class effectively, you'll need excellent people and organizational skills as well as a broad knowledge of your chosen subject. Read on to learn how to teach online.

STEPS YOU NEED

1. Contact the online director at your school or college. Inquire about specific rules for teaching an online course. If you want to teach a class through the Learning Annex or Universal Class, you'll usually need to show proof of a four year (B.A.) degree and relevant work experience. You'll also need excellent writing, typing and computer skills.

2. Post an overview of the course as soon as it's available. Provide thorough information about the class and its contents, but don't make it too wordy. Include prerequisites like computer skills or introductory classes in the subject. Finish the overview with a syllabus and an email address so potential students can contact you with questions.

3. Write the syllabus. A class-by-class description of topics covered, teaching style, homework assignments and exam schedule, the syllabus needs to be as complete as possible. Update it after the first class with a list of students and options for classmates to contact the instructor and the other students. Let the students know what's expected of them in terms of class participation and projects.

4. Answer correspondence immediately. Between online bulletin boards, class chat rooms and email, there's no excuse for not responding quickly to a student's question. Unless the question is of a personal nature (student needs time off), posting the answer on a class "bulletin board" will save time and may help other students as well.

5. Construct a threaded discussion board. Arrange it in an easy-to-read manner so students will find topics without searching too long. Check on board contents often, and make sure it stays live, even late at night. Many students do their coursework after day jobs or on weekends.

6. Step6Realize that online tests need to be written differently than in-person tests. Since a large percentage of students cheat on tests even in a classroom, take extra care when putting together an online test. Use essay questions whenever possible. In some instances, it may be necessary to have local students attend a proctored test session at a central location.

7. Vary the length and tone of online lessons. Use graphics and plenty of links to other sites for research. Keep the text short and to the point, and include videos, Powerpoint presentations and other online "hand-outs" to keep things interesting. Make sure all students get involved in discussions.

Best Resources for Online Teaching