Put it Online

You might have noticed that the products on this site are offered as downloadable files that you can then use in the classroom. This should not stop you, the instructor, from using the materials in your online environment.

Course Management Systems

Course management systems include tools such as ANGEL, Blackboard, WebCT, and the like. Given the fact that there are several course management systems currently in use, we cannot offer specific instructions on how to insert these materials into your online course. However, below are some instructional strategies to consider.

Instructional Strategies

The instructional materials are traditional (e.g., presentation, readings, activities, assessments).

Presentation

When putting a presentation online, you have several options. Here are a few:

• You can create a set of HTML pages using the slides as images on the page. This allows you to type a transcript of what you want to say for each slide
• You can add audio to your PowerPoint and upload the PowerPoint file as is and allow the learner view the prentation as a PowerPoint presentation. Given accessibility concerns, you should include the transcript of the audio in the notes section of the presentation.
• You can insert your transcript into the notes section of the presentation and save the PowerPoint notes pages as a PDF.

No matter what approach you take, you will need to add content to the slides to make them stand on their own. Remember, the presentation slides do not make up a complete lecture. They are intended for use in existing presentations.

Readings

The readings are provided as PDF files and are therefore ready for the web. Simply upload the files to your course and the reading is ready for a student to view.

You can also consider turning the readings into presentation pages on the web. Combine the presentation slides with the content to create a page-turner lesson. Between the pages, insert thought provoking questions, send the student to an additional/applicable web resource, etc. Make the walk through the content interactive.

Activities

The activity will probably need to be edited to sound like it is coming from you, the instructor. Right now they are worded for the instructor. The activity can copied and pasted into the course management system or you can create a separate download (e.g., Word, PDF, etc.) so the students can conveniently download the file.

Assessment

The assessment questions are associated with the knowledge statements. You can use the assessment questions as

• part of an interactive presentation. Placing the questions through out the presentation at the appropriate location.
• a traditional, end-of-reading exercise to help the student reflect on the reading assignment.
• a combined assessment. Take all the questions and roll them into a task level assessment or a domain level assessment.

Depending on your approach, most course management systems offer a quiz or assessment function that allows you to load your own questions to be graded automatically. Just remember, assessments can be used to measure performance or it can be used to help the student self-assess. Don't be afraid to be creative.