At this week’s Explorations in Instructional Technologies brown bag seminar Bei Zhang, College of Natural Science, will present “Bridge the Social and Teaching Presence Gap in Online Learning” 

TIME:  Friday, October 7, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

PLACE:  Room 105 Natural Science Building. 

We applaud the flexibility, accessibility and financial benefits that online learning brings to its learners, but we must carefully ponder its adequacy and effectiveness.  Feelings of disconnection and isolation from teachers and other classmates could have a major negative impact on students’ satisfaction and success when learning online.  In this session, Bei will discuss tools and best practices that offer innovations in online teaching and learning by bringing students and teachers together as real human beings.  This is in contrast to the rather limiting contact normally afforded in the virtual world. The reduction in disconnection can be accomplished through well-designed interfaces of learning management system platforms (and other online tools). The resultant effect of significantly shortening the "distance" in distance learning should, at least, improve satisfaction and hopefully learning. 

This session will be of interest to all who are currently involved in online and blended courses, or are considering offering an online course.  Knowledge of how to reduce the feelings of distance and isolation of learners should result in a better learning environment for the students and a more enjoyable teaching environment for the faculty.