Deliver Your Online Course

Implementation is the step in which you deliver your course to the target audience. In other words, the effectiveness of your course design will be tested and confirmed. A solid groundwork is critical for a smooth and successful implementation of all instructional strategies. A few key tips for implementation, based upon online learning best practices, include:

  • Predictability: Write detailed, sensible policies and consistent information to help create predictability from the student’s perspective.
  • Organization: Provide students guidance about how to use the course management tools effectively (e.g., threaded discussions, assignments, quizzes, etc.).
  • Preparedness: Know your syllabus, resources, and learner support systems to respond to students’ questions timely and completely.
  • Resourcefulness and Planning: Identify alternative plans for delivering the course in the event of technology issues or modifying activities if students are not “getting it”.
  • Responsiveness: Counteract the negative aspects of the distance separating you and the students by monitoring your online courses frequently and responding to student concerns timely.

Additional Suggestions for Course Implementation

  • Hold regular online office hours.
  • Encourage dialogue by building student contributions with examples of your own experiences or relating it to the core content.
  • Reiterate critical information to clarify assignment instructions, course processes, and other important details.
  • Model your expectations.
  • Manage conflict between and among students.
  • Create an interactive online classroom culture.
  • Monitor all aspects of the online environment simultaneously (as much as possible).