Good practice in introducing a unit online

Some good practice ideas:

• Place a welcome message in a prominent position on the first screen students see. This may be in text, video or audio or image form. A photo helps students feel like they know you.
• Make the tone friendly, and give contact details for all teaching staff
• State how often teaching staff will check discussions and whether students should email urgent queries.
• Provide information to orientate students to the site. Include where they will find the main activities, learning resources and assessments.
• Make sure the unit guide and/or an introductory module contains:
  • Clearly stated learning objectives and outcomes
  • Indications how objectives are linked to learning activities, content and assessment
  • Any pre-requisite skills and knowledge, including details of how students may catch up if necessary. Skills may include e-literacy and IT skills - if so, provide links to online self-help guides if possible.
  • Assessment details including clear criteria
  • Submission dates and a suggested study schedule.
• Plan and make video and audio clips carefully. For advice, tips and support, see Sound and vision support

 For more information, see Designing your online/blended unit in Desire2Learn: Welcome and orientate students.

Principles:

Deakin Institute of Teaching and Learning Principles of Teaching, Learning and the Student Experience:

• A learning environment that is flexible and responsive to student support needs

e-Learning Maturity Model learning process descriptions:

• Students are provided with mechanisms for interaction with teaching staff and other students
• Students are provided with expected staff response times to student communications
• Learning objectives guide the design and implementation of courses
• Students are provided with e-learning skill development
• Student work is subject to specified timetables and deadlines.

Examples of good practice in introducing a unit online:

Orient students, build rapport and make them feel supported (H)