Course:OL Delivery:OTL201:Planning

Outcomes

 * 1) analyze the characteristics of ‘social presence’ in an effective online learning environment
 * 2) identify factors or considerations that contribute to student engagement and retention in distance learning environments.
 * 3) evaluate  effective course facilitation strategies to increase student engagement and retention.
 * 4) create and implement strategies to maximize student engagement in distance learning courses.
 * 5) identify at-risk students and apply appropriate retention strategies.
 * 6) create an environment that supports and enhances social presence in your courses.
 * 7) monitor your progress towards achieving your goals resulting in an improved and enhanced social presence in your courses.

Links

 * NSSE (does NSSE apply to online?)
 * Interaction Equivalency Theorem

Activities

 * Instructor to post short video
 * outside activities
 * how to contact? (other, later students, social media)
 * Participants to post on challenges they have faced in connecting with students in paced or continuous entry courses.
 * reading on social presence

Outcome
2&3

Activities

 * lit review (NSSE)
 * identify a MOOC (Coursera, EdX, Udacity...)
 * rate according to initial impressions of engagement and retention strategies
 * identify strategies for improving engagement and retention in distance learning
 * readings on engagement and retention
 * reflect on differences between initial impressions and published strategies and models

Assessments

 * Blog post #2

Outcome
4 & 5

Activities

 * video creation module from CMS
 * case study
 * create video resource explaining suggested strategies to engage with the class depicted in the case study and maximize student retention

Outcomes
6-7

Activities

 * Review and summarize 2-3 current articles on enhancing teaching presence
 * interview a peer or expert
 * analyze peer's engagement strategies
 * based on the research and your analysis of their engagement and retention practices identify 2-3 goals relevant to enhance social presence in your courses.
 * Present strategies for achieving your goals...develop a plan


 * identify gaps in your current practice and establish relevant goals related to improving and enhancing your social presence in your courses