While I have taught online for four different schools and all four schools have utilized different course platforms and technologies, as well as had different lengths of courses and different requirements for students and instructors, there are numerous aspects of the online classroom that are typically consistent across colleges.
Overtime, research has been conducted regarding the best way to setup an online class and most schools have developed their own formulaic standards for each course and each course week.
No matter where one chooses to teach, most online classes will include the following:
1. Introduction – This section of the classroom typically allows the instructor to introduce himself or herself to the class. Students are usually required to post an brief biography outlining topics such as what their major is, why they are enrolled in the course, and aspects of their personal life such as their job, family, etc. For all of the schools that I have taught for, it is required that faculty respond to all introductions in order to engage with the students and establish rapport.
2. Discussion Questions – Discussion Questions are setup differently at each school. Some schools require students to respond to two initial questions each week and then post follow-up replies to their peers a specific number of times each week. Other schools allow students to select one or two questions to respond to from a list of 6-10 questions that will be discussed during the course week. Faculty are expected to outline their expectations for the discussions and grade students on both their initial responses and participation. I have never taught a course without discussion questions – but I also teach courses were discussion is needed and warranted. I’m not sure how discussion boards work within a math course, for example.
3. Written Assignments – All of the courses I have taught have also had a minimum of two written assignments. For the English, History, and Political Science courses I teach, these are typically research papers that vary in topic based on the class focus. Written assignments typically require faculty to make in-text comments within the assignment as well as grade with a standardized rubric, for most schools.
4. Faculty Expectations – For some schools, this area of the classroom is included in a course syllabus or course guide. For others, faculty are required to post in a specific area or within an announcement explaining their expectations for students and what the student can expect from the instructor. The exact requirements vary based on the school, but usually grading requirements, late policies, plagiarism policies, and when students can expect feedback on assignments is included.
5. Announcements – This area of the classroom allows the instructor to communicate important messages, course material, and notes to the students. For most courses, it is the first area of the course that appears on the screen as soon as the student logs in – hopefully making the student most likely to read and comprehend any material or messages posted.
6. Student Chat Room – All online courses I’ve taught also have a student chat room. Schools name these areas different things but the goal is to allow students a place where they can discuss course materials, assignments, or anything else they would like to talk about, without causing discussion boards to veer off-topic or distract the course learning. I’ve found that many of my students do not utilize the chat room and seem to connect (if at all) through email or other social media.
Have you noticed any other areas that are commonly included in most online classrooms? How do you think these areas will evolve over time?
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
