Successful online courses have…..

Seven Principles for Good Practice

Chickering, A. W. and Gamson, Z. F. (1987). "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education." AAHE Bulletin March 1987: 3-7.

1. Good Practice Encourages Student-Tutor Contact

• increasing access to staff • providing additional opportunities for interaction

outside class• opening up complex or difficult issues• providing clear guidelines for interaction with online

students.

Example

2. Good Practice Encourages Cooperation Among Students

• Well-designed discussion assignments facilitate meaningful cooperation among students.

• From participation to collaboration• Relevant vs broad groupings

Example

3. Good Practice EncouragesActive Learning

• Learning by doing through simulations• Conducting investigations using electronic resources • Presenting student projects online

Example

4. Good Practice Gives Prompt Feedback

• Email personal feedback• Marking tools• Self- assessment• Peer assessment• Information feedback and acknowledgment feedback

Example

5. Good Practice Emphasises Time on Task

• Efficient, effective learning• Flexibility around busy work and home lives• Access to important resources• Online courses need deadlines.

Example

6. Good Practice Communicates

High Expectations• Challenging tasks• Clearly articulated and/or negotiated criteria• Publication on the web• Praise for quality work communicates high

expectations.

Example

7. Good Practice Respects Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

• Different routes to learning• Flexibility to accommodate all students• Bringing diversity out into the open• Allowing students to choose project topics

incorporates diverse views into online courses.

Example

• has a clearly expressed rationale• has a sound educational course design and engaging

activities• Is well aligned to the aims and objectives of the

course• gives prompt and regular feedback to students• is well integrated into the course design and linked to

assessment

Successful online learning …

Learning online

“The environment makes some activities possible and constrains others, but does not change the fundamental process of human learning”.

Alexander and Boud (2001) Learners still learn from experience when online, in J. Stephenson (ed) Teaching and Learning Online. Kogan Page