Kelly Smith

There are definitely misconceptions about how difficult it is to teach online content, and I do agree that often those instructors who teach online only do not get the same level of recognition from institutions as face-to-face instructors get.  I find it much more time-consuming to prepare for online instruction than it is for an in-person session.  Instructors who successfully convert their content into active online lessons need to be recognized, and it would be great if these instructors were asked to share their experiences with all faculty, as more and more of the student experience is moved online.

While I am already aware of the benefits of active learning, I struggle to bring these techniques into my classroom.  My courses occur in the first 10 weeks of an accellerated program where many students are back in school for the first time since high school.  They have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to writing, comprehension, the college environment, and math skills.  There is a very real fear that changing techniques could lead to students missing something absolutely essential that the current techniques have been satisfactorily teaching.  I am also in my first year teaching… >>>