A Beginner’s Guide to (Cyber) A Beginner’s Guide to (Cyber) Online Teaching: Pleasures and Online Teaching: Pleasures and

PitfallsPitfalls

American Psychological Association Annual MeetingAmerican Psychological Association Annual MeetingToronto CanadaToronto Canada

August 6-10, 2003August 6-10, 2003

Dr. Diane FinleyDr. Diane FinleyPrince George’s Community CollegePrince George’s Community College

Dr. Ken WeaverDr. Ken WeaverEmporia State UniversityEmporia State University

Distance EducationDistance Education

First appeared in 1892 First appeared in 1892 catalogue of U.Wisconsincatalogue of U.Wisconsin

First used by ERIC as a First used by ERIC as a descriptor in 1983descriptor in 1983

Any formal (or informal) delivery Any formal (or informal) delivery of learning in which the majority of learning in which the majority of the instruction takes place at of the instruction takes place at a physical (and temporal) a physical (and temporal) distance distance

Types of D.E.Types of D.E.

Mail correspondenceMail correspondence Print MaterialsPrint Materials TelephoneTelephone Radio broadcastingRadio broadcasting Television broadcastingTelevision broadcasting

videotapes; ITVvideotapes; ITV CD/Videotape/audiotapeCD/Videotape/audiotape EmailEmail OnlineOnline

Philosophical IssuesPhilosophical Issues

Learner centeredLearner centered ““Guide on the side”Guide on the side” Learner autonomyLearner autonomy Collaborative nature Collaborative nature Facilitator v. instructorFacilitator v. instructor

JargonJargon

CyberteachingCyberteaching ISP – internet service providerISP – internet service provider AsynchronousAsynchronous Virtual classroom/ chat roomVirtual classroom/ chat room Face to face (f2f)Face to face (f2f) CMS – CMS – Course management systemCourse management system

(discussion board, bulletin board, forum)(discussion board, bulletin board, forum)

Faculty Training IssuesFaculty Training Issues

New paradigm for teachingNew paradigm for teaching Technological competenciesTechnological competencies Course design issuesCourse design issues Teaching as a skillTeaching as a skill Time management issuesTime management issues Support service issuesSupport service issues

Misconceptions and Myths Misconceptions and Myths About Online LearningAbout Online Learning

Web classes are easy.Web classes are easy. Work for web classes can be Work for web classes can be

done at my own pace – they are done at my own pace – they are self-paced.self-paced.

Web classes don’t take much Web classes don’t take much time.time.

This is basically an independent This is basically an independent study, I don’t have to interact study, I don’t have to interact with other students.with other students.

Learning Myths, cont.Learning Myths, cont.

The instructor will “teach” me The instructor will “teach” me everything I need, including all everything I need, including all technology related issuestechnology related issues

The teacher will be available The teacher will be available 24/7. 24/7.

I don’t have to have a computer I don’t have to have a computer or internet connection at home.or internet connection at home.

All materials I need will be All materials I need will be online (i.e. no more books).online (i.e. no more books).

Misconceptions and Myths Misconceptions and Myths About Online TeachingAbout Online Teaching

I don’t need to know anything about I don’t need to know anything about technology. technology.

I have to know everything about I have to know everything about technology.technology.

Technology makes things easy – it Technology makes things easy – it won’t be a problem.won’t be a problem.

Teaching online is just like teaching Teaching online is just like teaching face-to-face.face-to-face.

Teaching online will take less time.Teaching online will take less time.

Teaching Myths, cont.Teaching Myths, cont.

Teaching online will be easy – I Teaching online will be easy – I can just post my lecture notes.can just post my lecture notes.

I can just post all required I can just post all required information and instructions and information and instructions and the students will read it all, no the students will read it all, no more answering questions about more answering questions about something already stated.something already stated.

I’m good in the classroom, I’ll be I’m good in the classroom, I’ll be good online.good online.

Online courses are teacher Online courses are teacher centered.centered.

Teaching Myths, cont.Teaching Myths, cont.

The class dynamics will be different The class dynamics will be different online; there won’t be any online; there won’t be any interaction.interaction.

I’ll never get to know my students.I’ll never get to know my students. I can’t do active learning online.I can’t do active learning online. I didn’t have any special training to I didn’t have any special training to

teach in the college classroom. I teach in the college classroom. I don’t need any to teach online.don’t need any to teach online.

To Begin:To Begin:

Know your own learning styleKnow your own learning style Know your own teaching and Know your own teaching and

learning philosophylearning philosophy Recognize your tolerance for the Recognize your tolerance for the

unexpectedunexpected Acknowledge your own Acknowledge your own

technology literacy levelstechnology literacy levels Assess honestly your motives Assess honestly your motives

and beliefs about online learningand beliefs about online learning

Issues To ConsiderIssues To Consider

Faculty selectionFaculty selection Time demandsTime demands Equipment needs – both faculty and Equipment needs – both faculty and

studentstudent Technology literacy requirementsTechnology literacy requirements Student expectationsStudent expectations Enrollment limitsEnrollment limits Intellectual property rightsIntellectual property rights

Contact InformationContact Information

Dr. Diane FinleyDr. Diane Finley

Department of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologyPrince George’s Community CollegePrince George’s Community College301 Largo Road301 Largo Road

Largo MD 20774Largo MD 20774301-322-0869301-322-0869dfinley@pgcc.edudfinley@pgcc.edu