SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching:

Why They Are So Important

Barbara TreacySREB Online Teacher Meeting

April 30, 2008

Why Are Teaching Standards Important?

For the same reason teachers are important!

“The most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher.”

–SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching

What Do Teaching Standards Do?

Enable accountability Ensure quality instruction Ground instruction in effective teaching

and learning principles Provide guidelines while not restricting

creativity or learning

Why Are Online Teaching Standards Important?

Online teachers need to meet the same quality teaching standards as f2f teachers

Online teachers need to understand how to do this in the online environment

What’s So Different About Teaching Online?

Online curriculum Social dynamic Increased importance of written

communication Online facilitation strategies & “online voice” Assessment strategies Technical challenges occur Classroom management New support & parental communication

systems

SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching

Address good teaching practices AND the online context – Connecting them both together

Set the agenda for quality teaching AND preparation of new online instructors

Example: EDC/EdTech Leaders Online Virtual School Instructor

Training

Based on SREB standards Emphasize need for initial and ongoing PD Online Instructor Course: initial training (8 wks) Follow-Up: Building a Community in a VS course

(4 wks) Ongoing support and national online forum Online course, with “model” online instructor

Instructor Training Course Sessions 1: Introduction to teaching students

in online courses 2: Building an online learning

community 3: Identifying supporting resources

for an online course 4: Using the course management

system's instructor tools 5: The power of online discussion in

virtual courses 6: Managing diverse learning needs

in a virtual classroom 7: Assessing students in virtual

courses

SREB Standards as a Guide to Action:

Basis for the Instructor Training Courses Academic Preparation: for Certified

Teachers Content Knowledge, Skills, and

Temperament for Instructional Technology

Experimentation Course Incorporation of Web 2.0 technologies Online course: provides experience in

CMS and online environment

Standards as a Guide to Action, cont.

Online Teaching and Learning Methodology, Management, Knowledge, Skills and Delivery

Online discussion techniques and skills: Scenarios

Online voice and netiquette Approaches, tools, techniques for online

classroom management and to differentiate instruction

Clear expectations: Welcome Letter Online assessment and regular feedback Project-based: Final Planning Template Legal, ethical and online safety issues Online experience with model instructor Pre and post course data informs instruction

How are online instructors changing teaching?Virtual School Instructors Understand how to teach with technology Incorporate new strategies for individualized

instruction and collaborative activities Increase student engagement and/or facilitate

deeper discussions with effective questioning techniques

Can be much more accessible to their students Use innovative approaches to assessmentVirtual schools are “labs of reform” and virtual

teachers are in the forefront!

A few quotes…“This course has influenced my teaching in the

physical classroom as well as offering thorough preparation and excellent resources for online courses that I may teach.”

-Louisiana Virtual School instructor

“I can plainly see that each of my colleagues are as intrigued and inspired to teach as I am!  Each of us brings something to the table of educating and if we just take the time to glean from each other -- WOW!... I tell you this information alone has taken my level of excellence in teaching to higher level.” -Mississippi Virtual School instructor

Thank you!

Barbara Treacy btreacy@edc.org

EdTech Leaders Onlinehttp://www.edtechleaders.org

Education Development Centerhttp://www.edc.org