Helen Fuqua

The statement "Assessment is the vehicle to improved learning and teaching" should be a reminder of assessment's focus for the instructor and the teacher. 

Instructors need to carefully scaffold instruction as it provides the structure for student learning. As instructors develop the course, they need to focus on their role as a tour guide creating a map that will support the students' success in the online course.

My focus in developing modules will be to reflect on the students' perspective. How will I organize the module to make an effective self-guided learning experience for my students? The technical recommendations and the learning-objects database will be helpful in the development of modules.

The recommendations for how to maintain course records and communications with students are essential to managing online instruction. The section on behavior management with the descriptions of student behavior and how they impact instruction was a good resource.

 Instructors should prepare students for class participation by providing netiquette rules. The recommendations to create chat sessions with small groups (5-6 students), time limit (30 minutes maximum), and prepare students with information and schedule well in advance set the stage for a successful chat.

The recommendation for the instructor to draft a short biography and email it with a welcome message to students by the first day of the course is a good virtual introduction. The student biography continues the introductions and provides a good means of building a relationship with the students.

My reflection after completing this module is that instructors can create online courses that provide engaging, meaningful learning that supports student mastery of learning outcomes. The strategies provided in the module are helpful recommendations for instructors to use in the creation of an online course.