Title: Session 1
Course: Connecting with Students Online

The Concepts of Teaching Online

In this session, you will be able to compare the online and traditional classroom learning environment, and to understand how the Minnesota Online Instructor Competencies relate to them.
Read
- Differences between online and face to face learning <http://jabba.edb.utexas.edu/it/fc_resta_courses_files/itpm/m0_7.html>
  - This website charts the differences and similarities between the two styles of learning and teaching.
- Online Instructor Competencies <http://suamconline.net/ContentManual/OnlineManual/OnlineCourseTutorial/page_03.htm>
  - This article provides an overview of the four areas of administrative, facilitation, technical, and evaluation in which an online teacher should be competent.
- MN Online Instructor Competencies (see attached file)
  - This is a DRAFT for a proposed set of Minnesota Online Instructor Competencies
Explore
- Florida Virtual teachers discuss the online classroom: http://www.srebonlineteachers.org/onlineVideo.html
  - Who does best in the online classroom? Is there just one situation, or many?
- Managing an Online class: http://www.indiana.edu/~icy/media/de_series/managing.html
  - Tips and suggestions for managing an online class from Indiana University

After you have read the proposed MN online Instructor Competencies (in the reading section), click on the link below to participate in a survey which will help you to determine your competencies as an online instructor. Note where your strengths, as well as your weaknesses are.
- Penn State website, and take the "Faculty Self-Assessment: Preparing for Online Teaching"
  - https://weblearning.psu.edu/FacultySelfAssessment/
Develop
By the end of the course you will submit a Communication Task List which will help you to plan, organize and implement strategies for management of, and communication with students online. Each week of this course, you will be asked to work on one or more sections of the plan.

For this week, download and save the Communication Tasklist Template and complete Part I. You will submit this template to your facilitator for feedback at the end of Session Six. The template is a Microsoft Word document and you can add your ideas to the template itself. You might want to consider using GoogleDocs (a free online tool for collaborating on documents) for drafting your tasklist. GoogleDocs is a part of your Minneapolis district email and can be accessed at https://staff.mpls.k12.mn.us/Pages/MPSGoogleApps.aspx. Non district employees can set up a GoogleDocs account at http://www.google.com/google-d-s/documents/ After you save the Communication Task List Template to your computer, you can upload the template directly into your Google Docs account.
Discuss
Go to this session's Discussion Forum to discuss the following question:

Compare what it takes to be a great online teacher, to what it takes to be a great classroom teacher. What do you think will be different about teaching an online class, what do you think will remain the same?

Please note specific points from the readings or from your experiences that support your response. Please make at least three substantive contributions to the discussion using the Discussion Forum rubric, found on the main page of this course.
Optional Reading
- What Makes a Successful Online Student? http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/studentprofile.asp
  - This article provides an overview of the qualities that makeup a successful online student
- What Makes A Successful Online Facilitator? http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/instructorProfile.asp
  - This article provides an overview of the qualities that makeup a successful online facilitator.
Broken Links
While we check links regularly, it is not always possible to make sure that all web links are always working. If you encounter any broken links, or other issues with the course curriculum, please contact your course instructor. Thank you!
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