Learning to Teach Online from Coursera

Are you an educator? Have you ever wanted to understand more about how to design your class to make better use of educational technology – whether fully online or in blended contexts? Would you like to learn from those who have extensive practical experience with online technologies?

The Learning to Teach Online (LTTO) MOOC will help you develop a working understanding of successful online teaching strategies that you can apply in your own practice. The course is based upon the multi award winning open educational resource developed by Dr Simon McIntyre and Karin Watson.

Integrating online technologies into your teaching can be a challenging prospect, and it can be difficult to know how to approach it effectively for the benefit of both students and yourself. No one knows your own content and teaching strengths better than you, and the “one size fits all” formula doesn’t always suit everyone. No matter what type of technology you are interested in exploring or your level of experience, this course will help you draw on your teaching strengths and find the approach that is right for you, your students and your educational context.

This course will guide you through your journey of understanding how online technologies can enhance your course design. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of effective online teaching practices and their relationship to the use of different technologies. You will also be encouraged to progressively design and reflect upon your own online learning activity, assessment or resource for use in your own class if you choose to undertake the course assignments.

What's inside

Syllabus

Why is Online Teaching Important + Open and Institutionally Supported Technologies

'Module 1: Why is Online Teaching Important' is about understanding where you are in the current educational landscape, and determining where you want to be. We will explore why online teaching is relevant to your teaching practice, and you’ll have an opportunity to reflect upon the opportunities and challenges you face in your own context. 'Module 2: Open and Institutionally Supported Technologies' focuses on helping you understand the benefits and restrictions of both broad categories of technologies. We’re all familiar with different social media technologies, and many of us will be aware of larger institutional online learning systems. In this module we will ask you to think about the reasons why you might want to use freely available online tools for your teaching - or your institution's learning management system. Important considerations such as which types of technologies are suitable for a range of different activities will also be explored.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on incorporating technology into your lessons, helping you improve your teaching practices

Created by educators with extensive experience using online technologies

Provides guidance on using technology effectively for teaching, without a one-size-fits-all approach

Equips you with strategies for planning and designing effective online learning activities

Covers various online assessment strategies and their benefits

Demonstrates ways to use open and online resources in your classes

Reviews summary

Foundational strategies for teaching online

According to learners, this course from UNSW Sydney offers practical strategies and a strong foundational understanding for teaching online effectively. Students frequently highlight its well-structured approach, progressing from core concepts to course design, engaging activities, and assessment methods. Many appreciate the emphasis on pedagogical principles over merely showcasing technology tools. The content is often described as highly relevant and providing actionable insights. While some reviewers note that a few technology examples are somewhat outdated, the consensus is that the underlying principles and helpful resources remain valuable for educators looking to enhance their online teaching practice.

Provides a solid introduction for beginners.

"This is a great course for someone just starting out with online teaching."

"As a beginner, I found this course very accessible and helpful."

"More experienced online instructors might find some parts review."

Logical flow from basics to practical application.

"The modules build nicely upon each other, creating a solid foundation."

"I appreciated the clear structure and progression of the course material."

"It takes you step-by-step through designing an online learning experience."

"Each module is well-organized and easy to follow."

Content is timely and applicable.

"The content felt very relevant to the challenges I face teaching online."

"All the topics were pertinent to improving my online teaching practice."

"The course addresses current needs in online education effectively."

"Highly relevant to the current demands placed on educators transitioning online."

Emphasizes teaching principles over tools.

"Loved that it focused on *how* to teach online, not just *what* tools to use."

"The focus on pedagogy and design principles was exactly what I needed."

"It helped me think about the learning experience from a pedagogical perspective."

"Much more useful than just a tech tutorial, it teaches you the 'why' behind online design choices."

Offers actionable tips for online teaching.

"Really practical tips that I could apply immediately to my course."

"The course gave me a lot of practical ideas on how to approach teaching online."

"I found the examples and case studies very helpful for developing my own strategies."

"Provides concrete, actionable steps for transforming traditional courses into effective online ones."

A few technology examples are not current.

"Some of the tech examples felt a bit dated, but the principles were still sound."

"I noticed a few mentions of tools that aren't widely used anymore."

"While the core ideas are evergreen, specific platform references could be updated."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learning to Teach Online with these activities:

Review basic principles of online learning

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Reviewing the basic principles of online learning will help you better understand the course materials and how to best engage with the content.

Browse courses on Online Learning

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Read the course syllabus and any introductory materials provided by the instructor.
Explore the course learning management system (LMS) and familiarize yourself with its features.
Read articles or blog posts about best practices for online learning.

Practice using the course LMS

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Practicing using the course LMS will help you become more comfortable with the platform and avoid technical difficulties.

Browse courses on LMS

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Create a new discussion post and respond to a few others.
Submit an assignment through the LMS.
Use the LMS to access course materials and resources.

Review Learning Technologies

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Refreshes your knowledge of educational technologies to help you identify and select the best tools for your own practice.

Browse courses on Open Educational Resources

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Read 'Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning' by Cheryl Lemke and Beverly Arbon
Review the 'Handbook of Research on EdTech Integration in Classroom Practices'
Explore online forums and discussion boards related to educational technology

Five other activities

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Create a course schedule and stick to it

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Creating a course schedule and sticking to it will help you stay organized and on track with your studies.

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Identify the key tasks and assignments for each module or week of the course.
Allocate specific time slots in your schedule for completing these tasks.
Use a calendar or planner to track your progress and stay accountable.

Participate in online discussions

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Participating in online discussions will help you engage with your classmates and learn from their perspectives.

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Read the discussion prompts and contribute your own thoughts and insights.
Respond to the posts of your classmates and engage in respectful dialogue.
Use the discussions to ask questions and seek clarification from your instructor and peers.

Create a study guide or summary of the course materials

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Creating a study guide or summary of the course materials will help you review and retain the information you are learning.

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Read through the course materials and identify the key concepts and ideas.
Organize the information into a logical structure, such as an outline or mind map.
Write a summary of each key concept or idea.

Volunteer as an online tutor or mentor

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Volunteering as an online tutor or mentor will help you reinforce your understanding of the course material and develop your communication and teaching skills.

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Identify organizations or platforms that offer online tutoring or mentoring opportunities.
Apply for a volunteer position and complete any required training.
Connect with students or mentees and provide them with support and guidance.

Contribute to an open-source project related to online learning

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Contributing to an open-source project related to online learning will help you gain practical experience and connect with others in the field.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open-source projects related to online learning on platforms like GitHub or SourceForge.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit a pull request with your contributions and engage with the project maintainers.

Career center

Learners who complete Learning to Teach Online will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Online Teacher

Online Teachers teach courses over the internet, typically to students in remote locations. This course is designed to help Online Teachers enhance their course design and integrate various educational technologies. By exploring successful online teaching strategies, Online Teachers are able to learn how to implement them in their own practices and apply them in blended contexts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Online Teacher

Learning Technologist

Learning Technologists design, develop, and implement learning technologies. This course provides a solid foundation in educational technology through practical experience. By exploring the different types of educational technologies, as well as how to use them to enhance educational programs, Learning Technologists can gain the necessary knowledge to be successful in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning Technologist

E-Learning Specialist

E-Learning Specialists design, develop, and implement electronic learning materials and programs. This course provides these professionals with practical experience working with educational technology. By giving professionals a working understanding of various educational technologies, this course can help E-Learning Specialists improve their abilities in designing online course content and media, as well as in evaluating the effectiveness of learning materials.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create learning experiences, using design principles and research to enhance instruction. This course, Learning to Teach Online, can help Instructional Designers create online learning experiences in blended contexts. This course teaches about the specifics of successful online learning strategies, teaching professionals how to implement them, and explore the relationship between these strategies and common educational technologies.

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Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design and develop educational programs and materials. This course can help Curriculum Developers integrate online technologies into their programs. By exploring successful online teaching strategies and their relationships with educational technologies, Curriculum Developers can learn how to design engaging and effective online learning experiences.

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Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide advice and guidance to educational institutions and organizations. This course provides opportunities for hands-on experience working with educational technology, enabling Educational Consultants to build a solid foundation in the field. With a working understanding of educational technologies, Educational Consultants can more effectively advise on planning and implementing blended and online courses.

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Faculty Developer

Faculty Developers provide professional development opportunities to faculty members. This course can help Faculty Developers build their knowledge in online teaching strategies. By understanding how to use various educational technologies, Faculty Developers can better support faculty members in designing and delivering online courses.

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Education Consultant

Education Consultants advise individuals and organizations on education-related issues. This course may be useful for Education Consultants who want to learn more about online learning. By understanding the different types of online learning programs, as well as their benefits and challenges, Education Consultants can provide informed advice to their clients about how to use online learning to achieve their goals.

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Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers conduct research on education and learning. This course may be useful for Educational Researchers interested in exploring the effectiveness of online teaching strategies. By evaluating the impact of different technologies on student learning, Educational Researchers can contribute to the body of knowledge in this field.

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Training Manager

Training Managers plan, develop, and implement training programs. This course may be useful for Training Managers who want to learn more about online training. By understanding how to use various educational technologies, Training Managers can gain the necessary knowledge to design and deliver effective online training programs.

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Education Policy Analyst

Education Policy Analysts research and evaluate education policies. This course may be useful for Education Policy Analysts who want to learn more about online learning. By understanding the different types of online learning programs, as well as their benefits and challenges, Education Policy Analysts can make informed recommendations about how to improve online learning opportunities.

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Education Entrepreneur

Education Entrepreneurs start and run their own education businesses. This course may be useful for Education Entrepreneurs who want to learn how to develop and deliver online courses. By understanding the different types of online learning programs, as well as their benefits and challenges, Education Entrepreneurs can make informed decisions about how to create and market their own online courses.

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Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches provide support and guidance to teachers. This course may be useful for Instructional Coaches who want to learn more about online teaching. By exploring successful online teaching strategies, Instructional Coaches can gain the knowledge necessary to support teachers in implementing these strategies in their own classrooms.

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Teacher

Teachers are responsible for educating students in a variety of settings. This course may be useful for Teachers who want to learn how to integrate technology into their teaching. By exploring successful online teaching strategies, Teachers can learn how to use educational technologies to engage students and improve learning outcomes.

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Education Administrator

Education Administrators manage the day-to-day operations of schools and other educational institutions. This course may be useful for Education Administrators who want to learn about the latest trends in educational technology. By understanding the benefits and challenges of online learning, Education Administrators can make informed decisions about how to integrate technology into their institutions.

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