James R. Miller, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Kansas, says that the iPhone may be an ideal platform for students learning online. According to Miller,

“People are beginning to expect on-demand delivery for education. They may be out in a field someplace or completely away from standard Internet connectivity. Well, if they can pick up their iPhone and turn it on, that technology is making it possible for them to get this on-demand education that they need.”

I have no problem teaching students on their iPhones rather than laptops if that’s the access method they choose. I can also understand that the touch-screen of the iPhone may offer a greater since of interactivity than clicking a mouse and that the audio capabilities cater to the many who learn best through listening rather than reading. However, I’m not going to be designing my courses specifically for iPhone users just yet. Read the rest of this entry »

Leigh Blackall shares his thoughts on teaching vs. facilitating on his Learn Online blog.

I feel like I teach more than facilitate, because that’s what my particular students need/want from me, but I would rather facilitate. What are your thoughts on the quandary in which Leigh and many of us who teach online find ourselves? Is it inherently bad pedagogy to teach rather than facilitate?

For me, different students and different content require different strategies. I would love to hear your thoughts

Teaching the same course several times a year can get monotonous. That’s not good for your or your students. Although those of us who teach online have a variety of tools and modalities to grab students’ attention, it is always nice to add variety.

Rita-Marie Conrad and J. Ana Donaldson have gathered ideas from online instructors from all over. Their book, Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL) is full of so many ideas that neither you nor your students will not get bored for a long while. Read the rest of this entry »