Teaching Academy video series takes viewers inside an online classroom

Standing in front of a new class presents a challenge for any teacher. Teaching the class online, without being able to see your students, adds an extra dimension to that challenge.

“When I first started, I felt like I was talking to a blank wall,” says Meadow Schroeder. “I could make a joke and I had no idea if anyone laughed.”

Schroeder and Barb Brown, both instructors in the Werklund School of Education, are hoping to help their colleagues tackle that challenge.

Between them, Schroeder and Brown have taught more than 35 classes online, and they’re both recipients of the University of Calgary Teaching Award for teaching in online environments. They’re also members of the Teaching Academy, a group of Teaching Award recipients who are interested in supporting the development of teaching and learning expertise at the University of Calgary.

Videos cover good practices for online classes

“When I first started teaching online, I went looking for examples, but the examples I found weren’t going to work in the classes I was teaching,” Schroeder says. “I felt like I was going in blind.”

“We thought it could be helpful for other instructors who are teaching online or are interested in teaching online to see a walk-through of what it might look like,” Brown says.

Brown and Schroeder have prepared a two-part video series, using Adobe Connect, that takes viewers into an online class. The videos focus on logistics and good practices in teaching online, rather than the technical aspects of setting up online sessions and courses.

The first video introduces a number of communications tools and different ways to use them. The second part looks at student participation and how to encourage discussion and interaction in an online class.

No single right way exists to teaching online

“We look at how we use tools in our own teaching practice, the things we’ve found that work and don’t work, and tips for avoiding problems and getting the most out of class time. Sometimes we do things differently, which really demonstrates to people that there’s not just one way to do it,” Schroeder says.

“I think that’s an important message for instructors who might be apprehensive,” Brown adds. “There is no one single right way of teaching online.”

Brown notes she was fortunate to gain experience as a teaching assistant in an online course before teaching online herself. She has since mentored other instructors new to teaching online, and says the videos are a way to expand that mentorship across campus.

Taylor Institute emphasizes new approaches to teaching and learning

The videos can be found on the Taylor Institute’s Vimeo channel.

Schroeder and Brown are looking for any feedback viewers may have after watching the video, including what was useful, what was missing and what could be changed. A link to a short survey can be found in the video description.

The Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning is dedicated to better understanding and improving student learning. The institute supports instructors and students to innovate, reflect and explore new ideas and approaches to teaching and learning. The new home of the Taylor Institute will open in April 2016.