Online Learning

Teach material

Integrate instructional materials, tools and activities that engage students and support course outcomes.


As part of the “What Works Well in Online Teaching” (WWWOT) series, Mark Van Hueval talks about how he engages students with the videos he makes.


As part of the “What Works Well in Online Teaching” (WWWOT) series, Juan Maldonado shares his strategies for creating and organizing teaching materials in his course.

Practices

At the foundation level of a class, the instructor needs to provide learning materials for students in an effective way. Here are the essential practices for this category.

Essential Practices
  • Organize teaching materials clearly and consistently within D2L Brightspace so students can easily find lectures, readings, assignments, and other key resources.
  • Ensure course materials and activities align with both module-level and course-level outcomes.
  • Thoroughly review course materials, resources, and activities to ensure they are current and relevant.
  • Monitor course before and during the term, as well as for any live sessions, to make sure everything functions properly, e.g. correct broken links and accessibility issues.
  • Provide and facilitate weekly material using a variety of tools to engage students in their learning, e.g. announcements, images, video, audio, discussions, and Zoom.
  • Add material or explanations to clarify concepts as needed while teaching the course.
High-Impact Practices for Continuous Improvement
  • Create a “Course Tour” or “Getting Started” video for week one and “How to” videos as needed.
  • Use the TiLT framework to explicitly outline purpose, task, and criteria of course activities.
  • Incorporate active learning strategies to engage students with course concepts.
  • Regularly assess how your teaching materials meet the diverse needs of students.
  • Make yourself available to provide additional guidance related to the teaching materials.
  • Create short videos to answer common questions.

Examples for any online course

  • Use a logical layout, consistent naming, and predictable module designs so students can easily find lectures, readings, and assignments. Keep related materials for each week or unit together and place high-priority resources where they’re easy to access.
  • Create a new announcement at least on a weekly basis. Use video when possible or a new image to highlight that there is something new.
  • Use a screencast or screen sharing to show students how to locate teaching materials in the course, including feedback that will help them improve their learning.
  • Create engaging discussion topics related to the course materials that encourage critical thinking and student participation.
  • Incorporate active learning strategies to deepen engagement with course materials. Examples include think-pair-share, polls, collaborative problem-solving, or brief reflective writing.
  • Format assignment and discussion instructions using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TiLT) method to provide purpose, task, and criteria for success.
  • Offer a choice of learning activities, where possible, to meet the learning outcomes.

Examples for online courses with scheduled meetings

  • Make clear how materials and activities across modalities work together to guide student learning.
  • Practice screen sharing, microphone settings, and interactive tools before each session.
  • Have students take a low stakes quiz prior to synchronous sessions, or gamify the activity by using  Kahoot! to create a fun quiz for warm-up or review.
  • Ask students to reflect on something they recall from the previous session.
  • Incorporate real-time polls, quizzes, and breakout room discussions to deepen engagement with course content.
  • Ask students to bring pictures or examples related to course content, then use breakout rooms for them to share and discuss as part of a jigsaw activity.
  • Provide immediate, on-the-spot explanations or demonstrations based on student questions.
  • Create a “Muddiest Point” segment in live sessions to answer common questions, and make yourself available to provide additional guidance related to the teaching materials during live office hours.

Resources

Creating and Enhancing Course Content
Designing Engaging Learning Experiences
Facilitating Interaction and Engagement