Matthew Sklar

It's important for students to have concrete, written standards regarding what is expected of them.

It's important to provide both subjective and objective assessment.  Objective measures the degree of hard knowledge retained, while subjective focuses more on opinions formed and the ability to apply knowledge.

It's very important not just to evaluate students periodically but to assess their progress without consequence so that customizations and modifications can be made to ensure success.

It's vital to choose a tool that is a good match to students' needs, learning style and education level.

Good communication must be specific.  Students must understand what an instructor means and expects from them!

Since physical presence is limited or nonexistent, online instructors must make every effort to maintain a sense of presence!

It's certainly very important for the instructor to set and maintain a civil tone for online communication, both among students and between students and teachers!

I've learned that all online tools for communication fall into three major categories and have unique purposes.  They're not interchangeable!

It's vital to incorporate current technology into lessons because students will benefit both in class and in the field by being able to engage with that technology.  Also tracking student progress through various methods of assessment is crucial as well.

Objectives insure that the material you are teaching is providing what the student needs.  They need to know what you've taught, understand it, and be able to implement it in a practical sense.