Moving a Course from the Classroom to Cyberspace

Building an online course is not the same preparing to teach in the classroom. A well-designed online course requires more preparation. And since learning online is different than learning in the classroom, you will need to be aware of what works and what doesn't. This course will introduce you to the process of instructional design for online learning and walks you through the process of building one unit of study for your course. You will learn how to build online interactions and to make your courses more student-centered

To get started:

• Click on the Syllabus link below to find information about the course and the book
• Click on Introductions link to meet your instructor and introduce yourself
• Post any questions you have in Questions and Comments

Lesson 1: Comparing the Traditional and Online Classrooms

Welcome to the virutal classroom! During this first lesson we want you to come in, take a look around, meet your classmates and get comfortable with the learning environment. If this is your first online class I would like for you to pay particular attention to everything you are feeling right now. These feelings will be similar to those your future students have when they start their classes - the ones you will be developing or teaching.

During this lesson we want to compare teaching and learning online with teaching and learning in a traditional classroom. In what ways is learning online better? In what ways is it not as good as in the classroom? We also want to explore the differences in the roles of the instructor and the learner. The instructor has gone from the "sage on the stage" to the "guide on the side". Learners are no longer able to sit quietly in the back row and hope the teacher does not call on them. To make the grade they need to active participants in all aspects of the learning process.