ELI Course | Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning

Moving from the face-to-face classroom to the virtual classroom and distance learning can be intimidating -- for both the online student and the online instructor. Here, you'll get the chance to experience first-hand what it's like to take a course online, and you'll learn what you need to know to successfully create and facilitate an engaging online course experience.

Our goal with this course is to help you create the most "present" learning experience possible for your online students. Furthermore, we believe what you learn here can also help close the distance that often exists in the traditionally delivered course as well.

Learning Objectives:

During this ELI course, participants will:

Create an introduction video to use in your own online course that sets the tone and clarifies expectations.
Explore tools to create asynchronous video that will enhance instructor presence. These tools may be used to create instructional video, give feedback on assignments, or engage learners with content.
Consider student blogging or vlogging (video blogging) as a tool for reflection and demonstration of knowledge acquisition.
Examine the use of social media tools to extend the boundaries of the classroom.
Differentiate between social presence in a class and social media presence.
Set achievable personal goals for establishing your social presence and for utilizing social media tools.
Create a "triggering event" for your own course and share your creative thinking in the discussion.
Develop a collaborative project or problem-based activity that your students can submit to others for Peer Review and share your activity with others in the discussion.

NOTE: Participants will be asked to complete assignments in between the course segments that support the learning objectives stated below and will receive feedback and constructive critique from course facilitators on how to improve and shape their work.

Course Facilitators

Whitney Kilgore

Whitney Kilgore, Chief Academic Officer, iDesign

Whitney Kilgore is the Chief Academic Officer at iDesign and leads the learner experience design team that provides white-glove concierge support to faculty in the development of blending and online programs. Prior to joining iDesign she worked for Academic Partnerships, the College of Southern Nevada, and SunGard Higher Education in leadership roles within the field of digitally enhanced teaching & learning. She also holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas.

Maha Al-Freih

Maha Al-Freih, Lecturer, Princess Nora University, Saudi Arabia; PhD Candidate, George Mason University

Maha Al-Freih is a lecturer of Educational Technology at Princess Nora University, Saudi Arabia. She received her B.S. in Computer Science and her M.A. in Teaching and Learning with Technology. She has provided numerous technology training sessions as well as faculty and teacher training workshops on the integration of social media for learning. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Learning Technologies Design Research at George Mason University, VA.

Patrice Torcivia

Patrice Torcivia, Instructional Designer, Cornell University

Patrice Torcivia (@profpatrice) has been designing, developing and teaching online and blended courses since 2001. She is passionate about using technology to increase global access to STEM education and enable all students to have a globally networked learning experience. At Cornell University she is working on the design, production, and support for CornellX MOOCs, online courses and digital initiatives.

Event Dates/Times

Part 1: February 1, 2017
1:00–2:00 p.m. ET

Part 2: February 8, 2017
1:00–2:00 p.m. ET

Part 3: February 22, 2017
1:00–2:00 p.m. ET

Guest Facilitators

Apostolos Koutropoulos
AK as he is commonly called is the Online Program Manager of the Applied Linguistics Program at UMass Boston. He is the associate editor for Current Issues in Emerging eLearning and is well published on the development of community in online learning environments. Find him on Twitter @koutropoulos.

Sue Beckingham
Sue is a Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Educational Developer taking a proactive lead for technology enhanced learning. She is the co-founder of the international #LTHEchat (Learning and teaching in Higher Education) and the cross-institution open online course 'Bring Your Own Device for Learning’. Her research interests include social media and digital identity, and the use of technology to enhance learning and teaching. She writes a blog called Social Media for Learning. Find her on Twitter as @suebecks.

Adam Croom
Adam Croom is the Director of Digital Learning for the OU Center for Teaching Excellence and an instructor for the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication where he teaches public relations print and web design courses. He leads a campus wide initiative to provide tools that propel open learning environments called OU Create, which brings domains and web infrastructure to all students, faculty, and staff. Adam holds a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University. http://adamcroom.com