1.
But I've Never Taken an Online Course
Before!
Common challenges students have in online courses & what you can do to help mitigate them
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
Clint Lalonde, BCcampus/RRU/UVic
Unless otherwise noted (like slide 3), this presentation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Feel
free to copy, use, modify or distribute any or all of this presentation with attribution to Clint Lalonde. I used a number of
images from Unsplash.com that are licensed with a CC0 license

2.
CC-BY BCcampus

3.
Please do not copy or reuse this slide or the images on this slide. Thanks

4.
Why are we here?
(it all started with a tweet)
edtechfactotum.com/resources-to-help-learners-learn-online/

5.
onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/LearnAnywhere/

6.
Suddenly Online, Digital Promise, July 2020
Students who have experience taking an online course

7.
Never
Well, there was that
one time
(aka Spring 2020 pivot to emergency
remote)
Have intentionally
facilitated and/or
designed at least
one fully online
course
Your experience teaching an online course

8.
1. 4 common barriers students new to online learning experience
2. 3 strategies & tips you can use to help mitigate those problems
3. The COVID Impact – what students said
Photo by Max Saeling on Unsplash
The Agenda

9.
“Learning is a very human
activity. The more people feel
they are being treated as
human beings – that their
human needs are being taken
into account – the more they
are likely to learn, and learn to
learn”
Malcom Knowles

10.
Peralta Online Equity Course Design Rubric:
https://web.peralta.edu/de/equity-initiative/equity/
Academic
•Student
preparedness
for learning &
readiness for
online
learning
Pedagogical
•Course
organization &
design, quality
interaction,
and effective,
equitable
teaching
practices
Psychological
•Students
feelings of
social
belonging &
ability to
address
stereotype
threat as well
as perceptions
of course
relevance &
instructor
compassion
Social
•Student
perceptions of
connection
versus
isolation
related to the
course
Technological
•Students
ability to
access and
use course
technologies
Equitable Online Learning: 5 Considerations
Kelly, K. (2019). Peralta equity rubric bibliography of research citations supporting research
criteria. Peralta College. https:// web.peralta.edu/de/files/2019/08/Peralta-Equity-Rubric-
Research-for-Criteria-Aug-2019.pdf

11.
Social
Presence
•is the ability of participants to identify with the community,
communicate purposefully in a trusting environment, and
develop inter-personal relationships by way of projecting
their individual personalities.
Cognitive
Presence
•is the extent to which learners are able to construct and
confirm meaning through sustained reflection and discourse.
Teaching
Presence
•is the design, facilitation, and direction of cognitive and social
processes for the purpose of realizing personally meaningful
and educationally worthwhile learning outcomes.
Community of Inquiry
GARRISON, D. R., ANDERSON, T., & ARCHER, W. (2000). CRITICAL INQUIRY IN A TEXT-BASED ENVIRONMENT: COMPUTER CONFERENCING IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THE INTERNET AND HIGHER EDUCATION, 2(2-3), 87-105.

12.
4 common challenges learners have with online learning
(and 3 things you can do to help mitigate them)
Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

13.
1. Isolation & disconnection
Connect with learners before the course begins
Provide opportunities for student to student interaction
Be visibly present throughout the course
Photo by Vitaly Taranov on Unsplash

14.
2. Staying Motivated
Use their name
Personal email check-in
Teams & study groups
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

15.
3. Organization
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash
Establish a consistent rhythm to the course
Clear explicit directions often & in multiple ways
Use the course calendar within LMS

16.
4. Disorientation: Where am I?
Check for learning often with effective & timely feedback
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
Consistent organization of course content
Make the implicit explicit

17.
COVID: Student Challenges
Moderately /
Extremely Difficult
Somewhat
Difficult
Not at All /
Slightly Difficult
Accessing bandwidth/Wi-Fi 36% 27% 37%
Accessing equipment/devices 26% 29% 44%
Collaborating with other students remotely 18% 24% 58%
Using library resources remotely 16% 22% 63%
Using remote learning applications 14% 28% 58%
Consulting with faculty remotely 14% 25% 61%
Accessing course materials, such as OER and
course texts
11% 20% 69%
EDUCAUSE COVID-19 QuickPoll Results: Help for Students April 3, 2020

18.
COVID: Student Challenges
Moderately /
Extremely Difficult
Somewhat
Difficult
Not at All /
Slightly Difficult
Accessing bandwidth/Wi-Fi 36% 27% 37%
Accessing equipment/devices 26% 29% 44%
Collaborating with other students remotely 18% 24% 58%
Using library resources remotely 16% 22% 63%
Using remote learning applications 14% 28% 58%
Consulting with faculty remotely 14% 25% 61%
Accessing course materials, such as OER and
course texts
11% 20% 69%
EDUCAUSE COVID-19 QuickPoll Results: Help for Students April 3, 2020

19.
https://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/news/commercial-textbooks-present-challenges-virtual-environment

20.
COVID Pivot
1. Students appreciate faculty who remain positive and calm.
2. Students would like faculty to maintain a proper perspective.
3. Students appreciate faculty who are empathetic, who are
flexible, and who have reasonable expectations.
4. Professional behavior norms benefit students as well as faculty.
5. Students want faculty to be comfortable with technology.
6. Not all students are tech-savvy and connected.
Veletsianos, G., & Kimmons, R. (n.d.). What (Some) Students Are Saying about the Switch to Remote Teaching and Learning. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from
https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/4/what-some-students-are-saying-about-the-switch-to-remote-teaching-and-learning
Photo by Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash

21.
covid19.bccampus.ca

22.
Additional resources
Partnerships on Online Pedagogy (POP-in)
Tuesdays 10am-11am
edtechuvic.ca/POP
Facilitating Learning Online (FLO) Bootcamp
July 27-30/Aug 10-13
bccampus.ca/event/flo-bootcamp-2/
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

23.
Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash
Unless otherwise noted (like slide 3), this presentation is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution License. Feel free to use, modify or distribute any or all of this presentation with attribution
to Clint Lalonde. I used a number of images from Unsplash.com that are licensed with a CC0 license

24.
References
O’Keefe, L., Rafferty, J., Gunder, A., Vignare, K. (2020, May 18). Delivering high-quality instruction online in response to COVID-19: Faculty playbook. Every Learner
Everywhere. http://www.everylearnereverywhere.org/resources
Briggs, A. (2015). Ten Ways to Overcome Barriers to Student Engagement Online, OLC, https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/news_item/ten-ways-overcome-barriers-
student-engagement-online/
Lalonde, C. (April, 2020). Resources to help learners learn online, EdTechFactotum, https://edtechfactotum.com/resources-to-help-learners-learn-online/
Consortium, T. O. L., Public, the A. of, L, Universities, -grant, Everywhere, E. L., Bill, with support from the, & Foundation, M. G. (n.d.). Delivering High-Quality Instruction
Online in Response to COVID-19. Every Learner Everywhere. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.everylearnereverywhere.org/resources/delivering-high-quality-
instruction-online-in-response-to-covid-19/
Kelly, K. (2019). Peralta equity rubric bibliography of research citations supporting research criteria. Peralta College. https:// web.peralta.edu/de/files/2019/08/Peralta-
Equity-Rubric-Research-for-Criteria-Aug-2019.pdf
Veletsianos, G., & Kimmons, R. (n.d.). What (Some) Students Are Saying about the Switch to Remote Teaching and Learning. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from
https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/4/what-some-students-are-saying-about-the-switch-to-remote-teaching-and-learning
Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher
Education, 2(2-3), 87-105