Resource:  Best Practices for Online Pedagogy  (Blog)available at https://teachremotely.harvard.edu/best-practices   The WHY:  This blog post unites best practices from module 1 with the pedagogical design focus of this module.  It includes some useful links to instructional strategies and the points made in the blog dovetail nicely with the Module 2 emphasis on instructor presence.  The blog is part of Harvard University’s Teach Remotely website that provides guidance and resources to faculty.  There is plenty more on this site that may be supportive of your online course design and teaching.

Video: Why e-learning is killing education.  (8:38).   Viewable on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwSOeRcX9NI  The WHY:  Fascinating counter-point perspective in a TedX talk by Dr. Aaron Barth. He argues that people are at the core, and we should be considering what motivates and engages people to shift their thinking, heighten awareness, and commit to learning more.  Interesting pedagogical design suggestion for online learning.  Would it work?  How?

Core reading:    Pelz, B. (2009).  (My) Three Principles of Effective Online Pedagogy.

Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, Volume 14: Issue 1, 103-116. 

The WHY:  Although published in 2009, this author was the recipient of a Sloan-C award winner for Excellence in Online Teaching.  Pelz’ three principles are consistent with the “best” practices presented in Module 1, and his paper is supplemented by real examples to illustrate his ideas. As a faculty member in a SUNY Community College, the paper highlights the knowledge, expertise, and insights to be gained from a critical community of faculty and students.  The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation was an early and influential voice in digital technology  https://sloan.org/programs/digital-technology.  The Sloan consortium The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) was the leading professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of online learning worldwide, and is now known as the “Online Learning Consortium” (OLC).