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Spring Track G - Improving Online Instruction: Strategies, Pedagogy and Best Practices for Advanced Online Instructors
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Spring Track General Requirements
This year, FDI is again offering alternative tracks that will meet during the spring semester. By attending the sessions that comprise a spring track, faculty can opt out of participating during the summer months and still meet the participation requirements to receive a computer.
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Track Requirements
(click on title to jump to a description and time listing) |
Total of
Seven 2-hour Spring Short Courses
Required Session #1:
Required Session #2:
Required Sessions #3:
Required Sessions #4:
Required Sessions #5:
Required Sessions #6:
Required Sessions #7:
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Spring Track G Description
This spring track will focus on Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning (IDDL) strategies and best practice research. This track is designed for the experienced online instructor. Participants will examine strategies, pedagogy, and best practice information. Topics within this track include writing clear objectives, effective communication, online assessment, and quality assurance. Track participants will analyze theory and apply concepts from workshops in a hands-on culminating experience. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to meet with distance learning faculty of varying levels from a variety of disciplines. Track participants will receive Master Online Instructor certification.
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Spring Track G Requirements Overview
Spring Track G requires participants to attend seven selected spring short courses to receive a computer. The table to the right summarizes these requirements. The table below lists the required short courses with descriptions and dates offered. If you plan to attend a spring alternative track, you must be able to attend required sessions from those listed below. As always, it is possible to sign up for more than the required seven courses.
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Spring Track Course Listing
| Required Session #1 |
1 |
Campus Instructional Resources/Computer Security
- Tuesday February 3
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 1100
Windows / Macintosh
- Wednesday February 4
3pm - 5pm
Torgersen 1100
Windows / Macintosh
- Monday February 9
3pm - 5pm
Torgersen 1100
Windows / Macintosh
- Thursday February 26
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 1100
Windows / Macintosh
- Thursday March 26
3pm - 5pm
Torgersen 1100
Windows / Macintosh
| This short course will provide participants with an overview of the services and agencies that are in place at Virginia Tech to support the use of technology across instructional and research activities. Virginia Tech's security group will present and provide strategies, suggestions, and access to software that will assist participants as they take steps to ensure the safety of the information on their computers and the computer systems at Virginia Tech. In addition, leadership from new centers and projects which have broad interest to all Virginia Tech faculty will be present to describe and discuss their forthcoming projects and work. ^ |
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| Required Session #2 |
2 |
Writing Clear Objectives
- Thursday February 5
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 3080
Windows / Macintosh
| Do your students have a clear understanding of your course expectations, processes, and desired outcomes? In this short course we will explore the importance and construction of learning objectives. Participants will discuss the differences between objectives and goals, analyze Bloom's taxonomy, and will create learning objectives. ^ |
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| Required Session #3 |
3 |
Effective Commmunication in the Online Classroom
- Thursday February 19
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 1120
Windows / Macintosh
| Are your students bored of the same old discussion board questions? Those who doubt the potential of distance learning often state that there is little chance to interact with the students. Interaction can in fact happen easily and often as long as it is integrated into the course design. This workshop, led by staff from the Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, will discuss effectively using the discussion forum to enhance student interaction and learning. ^ |
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| Required Session #4 |
4 |
Effectively Assessing Student Learning in the Online Classroom
- Thursday March 5
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 3080
Windows / Macintosh
| Evaluating your student's progress is a necessity in any class. Doing so at a distance can be a very daunting task. This workshop addresses student assessment in a distance learning environment. We will discuss models and methods for designing effective assessment activities throughout courses that enable students to clearly demonstrate their competencies, actively provide feedback, and show that learning objectives are being met. As a result of this short course, led by staff from the Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, participants will have a better understanding of how to assess student learning at a distance, respond to student feedback, and answer questions related to successful learning outcomes. ^ |
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| Required Session #5 |
5 |
Peer and Self-evaluation of the Online Course
- Thursday March 19
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 3080
Windows / Macintosh
| Distance learning is about more than successfully utilizing technology. The means of delivering instruction can have a major impact on what elements you include in your courses and thestragtegies you use to teach. In this workshop, led by staff from the Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, you'll learn what research suggests about what works in distance learning and how to use this information to evaluate and continuously improve your online courses. Working with your colleagues, you'll examine your existing course materials, applying rubrics that have been developed based on this research. ^ |
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| Required Session #6 |
6 |
Faculty Experiences in Distance Learning: A Panel Discussion
- Thursday April 2
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 1120
Windows / Macintosh
- Tuesday March 31
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 1120
Windows / Macintosh
| Methods used to teach distance classes can vary greatly from course to course. In this session you will meet with faculty members who have integrated synchronous and/or asynchronous online elements into their distance class. Come learn from some of Virginia Tech's eLearning instructors as they lead the discussion and suggest possible practices to maximize your efforts and minimize your headaches. These instructors have had experiences that are quite different from one another, as the content, discipline, student academic level, and experience with distance learning varies between them all. ^ |
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| Required Session #7 |
7 |
Improving Online Instruction: Strategies, Pedagogy, and Best Practices (Spring Track G Culminating Experience)
- Thursday April 30
10am - 12pm
Torgersen 3060
Windows / Macintosh
| To truly gain an understanding of new concepts there must be application. Spring Track G participants will apply the strategies, tools, and practices learned over the course of the spring in an online course simulation or in their own course. Through collaboration, participants will expand their knowledge of distance education, while demonstrating which strategies work well in different disciplines. ^ |
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