Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education


Book Description

This book is to explores a variety of facets of online learning environments to understand how learning occurs and succeeds in digital contexts and what teaching strategies and technologies are most suited to this format. Business, health, government and education are some of the core sectors of society which have been experiencing deep transformations due to a generalized digitalization. While these changes are not novel, the swift progress of technology and the rising complexity of digital environments place a focus on the need for further research and novel strategies. In the context of education, the promise of increased flexibility and broader access to educational resources is impelling much of higher education’s course offerings to online environments. The 21st century learner requires an education that can be pursued anytime and anywhere and that is more aligned with the demands of a digital society. Online education not only assists students to success-fully integrate a workforce that is increasingly digital, but it helps them to become more comfortable with the use of technology in general and, hence, more prepared to be prolific digital citizens. The variety of settings portrayed in this volume attest to the unlimited opportunities afforded by online learning and serve as valuable evidence of its benefit for students’ educational experience. Moreover, these research efforts assist a more comprehensive reflection about the delivery of higher education in the context of online settings.




Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19


Book Description

This timely volume documents the immediate, global impacts of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on teaching and learning in higher education. Focusing on student and faculty experiences of online and distance education, the text provides reflections on novel initiatives, unexpected challenges, and lessons learned. Responding to the urgent need to better understand online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, this book investigates how the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) impacted students, faculty, and staff experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Chapters initially look at the challenges faced by universities and educators in their attempts to overcome the practical difficulties involved in developing effective online programming and pedagogy. The text then builds on these insights to highlight student experiences and consider issues of social connection and inequality. Finally, the volume looks forward to asking what lessons COVID-19 can offer for the future development of online and distance learning in higher education. This engaging volume will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in online teaching and eLearning, curriculum design, and more, specifically those involved with the digitalization of higher education. The text will also support further discussion and reflection around pedagogical transformation, international teaching and learning, and educational policy more broadly.




Virtual and Classroom Learning in Higher Education: A Guide to Effective Online Teaching


Book Description

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has prompted educators to utilize online learning resources in order to comply with public health and social distancing mandates. The transition to virtual classrooms has created several opportunities and challenges for all stakeholders involved in the educational ecosystem. The ability of the classroom instructor to impart learning to students requires considerable adjustments from both students and teachers, which can be a new experience for educational professionals. Virtual and Classroom Learning in Higher Education serves as a handy guide for instructors to effective online teaching with a focus on higher education. The book presents reviews on different aspects of online teaching, distilling key findings in an easy to understand manner for the reader. It provides educators with knowledge which familiarizes them with online teaching models and concepts (such as micro-learning, synchronous and asynchronous learning, online pedagogy, dynamic learning experience and more). Chapters are contributed by experts in online learning and cover the topic from different angles, giving the reader a broad perspective on virtual classrooms. Virtual and Classroom Learning in Higher Education is an essential read for administrators and educators involved in higher education settings, and general readers who are interested in widening their view of the online teaching model.




Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning Across Academic Disciplines


Book Description

Communication studies: fostering effective communication in online courses / Rosalie S. Aldrich, Renee Kaufmann, Natalia Rybas -- Composition and writing: embedding success: supplemental assistance in online writing instruction / Sarah E. Harris, Tanya Perkins, J. Melissa Blankenship -- English: facilitating online learning through discussions in the English classroom: tools for success and stumbling blocks to avoid -- Margaret Thomas-Evans, Steven Petersheim, Edwin A. Helton -- Political science: engaging students through effective instruction and course design in political science / Cheral A. Forge, Kristoffer Rees, Lilia Alexander, Ross C. Alexander -- Criminal justice: calming, critical thinking, and case studies: the politics, pitfalls, and practical solutions for teaching criminal justice in an online environment / Stephanie N. Whitehead, M. Michaux Parker -- Psychology: student misconceptions of psychology: steps for helping online students toward a scientific understanding of psychology -- Beth A. Trammell, Gregory Dam, Amanda Kraha -- World languages (Spanish and French): best practices in online second language teaching: theoretical considerations in course design and implementation / Dianne Burke Moneypenny, Julien Simon -- History: teaching history online: old struggles, new pathways / Justin Carroll, Christine Nemcik, Daron Olson -- Fine arts (drawing): best practices in online teaching for drawing / Carrie Longley, Kevin Longley -- Sociology, anthropology, and geography: igniting the passion: examples for sociology, anthropology, and geography / Denise Bullock, Katherine Millerwolf, Wazir Mohamed, Marc Wolf -- Philosophy: the proof is in the pedagogy: a philosophical examination of the practice of backward design / Mary A. Cooksey -- Biological sciences: online teaching and learning in biological sciences / Parul Khurana, Neil Sabine -- Mathematics: best practices of online education in mathematics / Young Hwan You, Josh Beal -- Education: building online learning communities on the foundation of teacher presence / Jamie Buffington-adams, Denice Honaker, Jerry Wilde -- Economics and finance: using simulation games to engage students in online advanced finance courses / Oi Lin Cheung, Litao Zhong -- Nursing: meeting QSEN competencies in the online environment / Paula Kerlerbaumann, Tony Abreymier, Karen Clark.




Global Approaches to Sustainability Through Learning and Education


Book Description

Unequal distribution of wealth, poverty, pollution, and gender inequality are just a few of the problems we face and struggle to eliminate. Sustainable development offers a long-term holistic solution to these problems through meeting the needs of the current generation without endangering the capability of future generations in meeting their own needs. Sustainable education or education for sustainability is a transformative learning paradigm that prepares learners and provides them with knowledge, ethical awareness, skills, values, and attitudes to achieve sustainable goals. Global Approaches to Sustainability Through Learning and Education is a comprehensive academic publication that facilitates a greater understanding of sustainable development and fosters a culture of sustainability through learning and education. Highlighting a range of topics such as ethics, game-based learning, and knowledge management, this book is ideal for teachers, environmentalists, higher education faculty, activists, curriculum developers, academicians, researchers, professionals, administrators, and policymakers.




Enriching Collaboration and Communication in Online Learning Communities


Book Description

Effective communication is essential in every organization, including educational institutions. Often, members of the online community work in isolation. Collaboration across varying disciplines and departments can promote unique professional development activities and create a stronger connection to the entire online community. Enriching Collaboration and Communication in Online Learning Communities is a critical scholarly publication that supports communication and collaboration in online settings by focusing on the ways all members of the educational institution can create community to foster personal and professional growth for all. The book takes an in-depth look at communication strategies and challenges including managing conflict, working effectively in virtual teams, critical thinking, intercultural and cross-cultural communication, and online leadership. It is ideal for faculty, teachers, administrators, principles, curriculum developers, professionals, researchers, and students.




Teaching Online


Book Description

Demystifies online teaching for both enthusiastic and wary educators and helps faculty who teach online do their best work as digital instructors. It is difficult to imagine a college class today that does not include some online component—whether a simple posting of a syllabus to course management software, the use of social media for communication, or a full-blown course offering through a MOOC platform. In Teaching Online, Claire Howell Major describes for college faculty the changes that accompany use of such technologies and offers real-world strategies for surmounting digital teaching challenges. Teaching with these evolving media requires instructors to alter the ways in which they conceive of and do their work, according to Major. They must frequently update their knowledge of learning, teaching, and media, and they need to develop new forms of instruction, revise and reconceptualize classroom materials, and refresh their communication patterns. Faculty teaching online must also reconsider the student experience and determine what changes for students ultimately mean for their own work and for their institutions. Teaching Online presents instructors with a thoughtful synthesis of educational theory, research, and practice as well as a review of strategies for managing the instructional changes involved in teaching online. In addition, this book presents examples of best practices from successful online instructors as well as cutting-edge ideas from leading scholars and educational technologists. Faculty members, researchers, instructional designers, students, administrators, and policy makers who engage with online learning will find this book an invaluable resource.




Small Teaching Online


Book Description

Find out how to apply learning science in online classes The concept of small teaching is simple: small and strategic changes have enormous power to improve student learning. Instructors face unique and specific challenges when teaching an online course. This book offers small teaching strategies that will positively impact the online classroom. This book outlines practical and feasible applications of theoretical principles to help your online students learn. It includes current best practices around educational technologies, strategies to build community and collaboration, and minor changes you can make in your online teaching practice, small but impactful adjustments that result in significant learning gains. Explains how you can support your online students Helps your students find success in this non-traditional learning environment Covers online and blended learning Addresses specific challenges that online instructors face in higher education Small Teaching Online presents research-based teaching techniques from an online instructional design expert and the bestselling author of Small Teaching.




Online Learning and Teaching in Higher Education


Book Description

What are the links between theory and practice in the area of online learning in higher education? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the online approach? How can online learning be used to enhance the student experience? This book provides the first critical evaluation of theory and practice in online learning and teaching in higher education. It also provides a critique of online learning for all those working in a higher education setting. It examines the online approach in the context of the internet age and global higher education, examining changes in distance learning as well as how online learning is affecting mainstream mass higher education. Practical examples throughout the book allow the reader to: Understand quality issues with regard to online learning Design appropriate courses Create stimulating online learning environments Transform learning methods Adapt and develop strategies to enhance online teaching practice Online Learning and Teaching in Higher Education is key reading for lecturers, managers and policy makers in the higher education sector.




Best Practices in Online Program Development


Book Description

Best Practices in Online Program Development is a practical, hands-on guide that provides the concrete strategies that academic and administrative departments within institutions of higher learning need to develop in order to create and maintain coherent and effective online educational programs. Unlike individual courses, an online education program requires a comprehensive, inter-departmental effort to be integrated into the ongoing educational project of a college or university. This book focuses on the: Integration of online education into the institutional mission Complex faculty-related issues including recruiting, training, and teaching Multifaceted support required for student retention and success Need for multilayered assessment at the course, program, technical, and institutional levels Challenges posed to governance and by the need to garner resources across the institution Model to insure ongoing, comprehensive development of online educational programs Best Practices in Online Program Development covers the above topics and more, giving all the stakeholders in online educational programs the building blocks to foster successful programs while encouraging them to determine what role online education should play in their academic offerings.