I have been with many institutions who only provide perfunctory training and it hardly covers the CMS (LMS). I tend to be wary of these institutions. Chris

Most online instructors use a discussion board, but not all are active in participation. It is important to get involved in the discussion and engaged in the conversation, commenting on students' posts and guiding their learning. The instructor should always continue to explore how to use discussions effectively.

Students who enrolled in online courses tended to have stronger academic preparation and come from higher income brackets, researchers found that students who took online classes early in their college careers were more likely become self-directed learners than those who took only face-to-face courses.

What learning objects have you created and how does that serve as a workload management strategy?

What methods do you use for formative course evaluation?

What methods have you developed to manage dynamic course elements?

How can participating in professional development courses serve as a workload management strategy?

How do you create a good atmosphere of collaboration without overtaxing yourself as an online instructor?

How do you model good communication that works in your favor regarding workload?

What are your "rules" for emailing for your students?

What strategies do you use to involve students, as part of smart workload management strategy?

How do you balance work and life when teaching online?

How do you manage your time when teaching online?

What strategies do you use to reduce emails and improve communication with your students?

What role does course design have in managing workload for the instructor?

What technology support documents or information have you created to support your online students?

What information management skills have you developed as an online instructor?

What time management skills have you developed as an online instructor?

How does implementing Chickering and Gamson's seven principles for good practice in education improve your online course?

Synchronous learning takes place when two or more people are communicating in real time. Sitting in a classroom, talking on the telephone, chatting via instant messaging are examples of synchronous communication. So is sitting in a classroom a world away from where the teacher is speaking via teleconferencing. Think "live." Asynchronous learning, on the other hand, is thought to be more flexible. The teaching takes place at one time and is preserved for the learner to participate in whenever the time is most convenient for him or her. Technology such as email, ecourses, online forums, audio and video recordings make this possible. Even snail mail would be considered asynchronous. Fancy word for convenience. I prefer Synchronous learning.