Instructors often assume that learning how to use digital tools, such as Panopto or Canvas, is all there is to fostering learning in digital spaces. Nothing could be further from the truth. Teaching in digital environments requires intentionality and sound pedagogy to ensure that students have opportunities to deeply engage with concepts, peers, and the instructor. The strategies and guidance below can get you started on planning and developing your flipped, hybrid, or online course.
Flipping the classroom
“Flipping” the classroom is an approach to teaching in which course content is introduced outside of the class meeting time, and time in the physical classroom is re-purposed for inquiry, application, and assessment in order to better meet the needs of individual learners.
Learn more about flipping the classroom.
Hybrid/Online teaching
Research indicates that well-designed hybrid and online learning environments are at least as effective as in-person learning environments in helping students learn. The key word in the previous sentence is well-designed. The resources below will help you design inclusive, engaging, and interactive hybrid and online courses.
Designing and refining hybrid and online courses
Since online education emerged as a field in the 1990s, faculty scholars have developed strategies that foster student success in digital learning environments. This page introduces a rubric you can use to ensure your course is built around practices that increase student engagement and success in digital learning environments.
Learn more about hybrid and online courses.
Asynchronous Learning
Research indicates that well-designed asynchronous learning environments can be as effective as synchronous or in-person learning environments. As with any mode of instruction, student success in asynchronous courses depends upon effective course design, active learning opportunities, meaningful facilitation, and the instructor’s commitment to fostering an inclusive learning community.
Learn more about asynchronous learning.
Regular and Substantive Interaction
Because of the challenges that distance imposes on a learning environment, instructors designing online courses have to be especially intentional about creating regular opportunities for interaction. The U.S. Department of Education requires that online courses include “regular and substantive interaction” (RSI). This page shares information on how to meet the “regular and substantive” requirement.
Learn more about regular and substantive interaction.
Teaching Online 101: Essentials of effective online and hybrid teaching
One of the best ways to learn how to design effective online courses is to experience one as a student. This 8-week, fully online, asynchronous course is designed to enhance your digital course design and pedagogical skill set, especially in online asynchronous courses. UW faculty, staff, and graduate students from all three campuses are welcome to join. Register today for the next course offering.
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
COIL is a virtual exchange pedagogy that fosters global competence through a learning environment that links UW classes with college classes in different countries. COIL courses can help students develop critical digital literacy and virtual collaboration skills and prepare them to tackle global challenges. Learn more about COIL.