PREPARING FOR ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING

Online learning and teaching are new experiences for many instructors and learners whose backgrounds are in traditional campus-based education. Because the demands presented by online education are different, many learners and instructors are unprepared for the challenges it presents. This paper looks at how to prepare students and instructors so they can be successful in online education. First, the knowledge and competencies learners and instructors require for success in online education are identified. Ways to orient and prepare students are then described. Instead of a traditional model where most orientation information is provided at the beginning of a program, it is suggested that considerably more information be provided prior to admission, to put students in a position to make more knowledgeable decisions about seeking admission. For students who are admitted, orientation and preparation should entail delivering, in multiple formats, information throughout the program, keying the information to the tasks facing the learner at that time. For instructors, development programs can be delivered in various formats but should be designed to respect instructors as adult learners and to build on their expertise and experience. Connecting instructors through communities of practice is a strategy that can help maintain motivation and provide support. In the case of both students and instructors, institutional commitment and support are required to ensure that programs of preparation are effective.