Teaching online classes requires an additional set of skills on the part of the instructor compared to teaching face-to-face classes. In addition to being the content expert and an expert at using learning management system tools, the instructor must also know how to develop engaging content and course activities that enable students to learn without being in the same room or computer lab as the instructor. Teaching online means the instructor is more often a facilitator, responding to questions and guiding students to the appropriate resources. Additionally, the way the content is organized and presented in the online course may very well determine how successful the students will be. With more than 15 years working with and training faculty to teach online, the speaker will present key elements of effective online courses based on best practices and on the speaker’s experience as an online instructor.

1. Developing Effective Online Courses
Luis A. Lopez
St. Philip’s College
San Antonio, Texas

2. St. Philip’s College
• St. Philip’s College is a 115 year-old public
comprehensive, multi-campus institution –San Antonio
• Enrollment: 10,000+ students
• More than 3,800 students enrolled in online classes
with more than 5,400 online enrollments
• College offers more than 225 online classes
• More than 180 faculty certified to teach online
• Standard LMS is Instructure Canvas

3. My Background
• More than 25 years as faculty member in
CIS/IT/Web Developer program
• Have taught online classes since late 1990’s
• More than 14 years training and mentoring faculty to
teach online
• Since 2007, serve as Director of Instructional and
Professional Development
– Responsible for training faculty to teach online
• Author of New Perspectives on Adobe Flash
Professional series

4. Key Course Elements
• Course structure
• First week activities
• Orientation to course
• Effective content
• Effective assessments
• Active and collaborative learning activities
• Effective and innovative use of technology

5. Course Structure
QM 1 –Course
Overview and
• Home page Introduction
– Welcome message
– Course overview
– Course requirements
– Contact information
• Modular structure
• Easy to follow

6. First Week Activities
• Icebreaker
discussion
• Introduce yourself
to the class
• Course orientation

7. Course Orientation
• Technical requirements QM 1 –Course
Overview and
– Canvas (LMS) tools Introduction
– Browser requirements
– Course software
• Syllabus
– Clear expectations QM 2 – Learning
Objectives
– Course Objectives
• Specific instructions on class activities
– Assignments
– Quizzes/Tests
– Discussions

8. Effective Content
• Each module clearly states learning
QM 2 – Learning
objectives Objectives
• Tasks and student expectations are clearly
stated
• Varied content QM 4 – Instructional
Materials
– Course notes
– Web resources
– Videos

9. Effective Assessments
• Multiple types of assessments QM 3 – Assessment
and Measurement
– Quizzes
– Discussions
– Research reports
– Assignments
– Software-specific projects
• Self-assessments throughout
the course
• Rubrics
• Canvas SpeedGrader

10. Active and Collaborative Learning
Activities
• Community of Learners
– Student to faculty communications
– Student to student communications
QM 5 – Learner
• Discussions Interaction and
Engagement
• Group activities
• Regular and frequent instructor feedback

11. Effective and Innovative use of
Technology
• Learning Management System
– Canvas QM 6 – Course
Technology
• Course software
– Adobe Flash
• Videos
– YouTube
– Instructor videos
• SoftChalk lessons

12. Lessons Learned
• Clear, concise, easy-to-follow instructions
help students succeed
• Quality orientation ensures a good beginning
• Student engagement is critical
• Teaching online classes is time-intensive
• Developing effective online content,
assignments, assessments takes more time
and effort

13. Lessons Learned
• What lessons have you learned in
teaching online courses?

14. Challenges
• What challenges have you faced in
teaching online courses?

15. Resources/Links
• Instructional Innovation Center
– http://www.alamo.edu/spc/iic/
• Instructure Canvas
– http://www.instructure.com/
• Quality Matters
– http://www.qmprogram.org/
• RubiStar – Rubrics
– http://rubistar.4teachers.org/
• The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and Practical
Pedagogical Tips by Judith V. Boettcher & Rita-Marie Conrad

16. Contact Information
• Luis A. Lopez, Dir. of Instructional &Professional
Development
– llopez@alamo.edu