Training Teachers for Virtual Classrooms: A Case Study of a Course in Online Pedagogy

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: Investigations of Teacher Education Program Design and Innovations

Abstract

This proposal describes a case study of an experimental course the author offered entitled Theory and Practice in Online Education, which was designed to prepare teachers for online instruction. In this course, students explored the history of online education, synchronous and asynchronous communication, learning theories, building online communities, online assessments, and differentiating online courses for special needs learners. Moreover, the blended nature of the class allowed the students to experience various aspects of online delivery, such as spending two weeks using asynchronous discussion boards and three weeks using synchronous, full-class discussions on Elluminate. The culminating project in the course required students create their own online course using Blackboard technology that implemented the best practices discussed and modeled in class.

Author

• Wayne Journell, University of North Carolina - Greensboro