Small Teaching Online Applying Learning Science in Online Classes

Find out how to apply learning science in online classes

The concept of small teaching is simple: small and strategic changes have enormous power to improve student learning. Instructors face unique and specific challenges when teaching an online course. This book offers small teaching strategies that will positively impact the online classroom. 

This book outlines practical and feasible applications of theoretical principles to help your online students learn. It includes current best practices around educational technologies, strategies to build community and collaboration, and minor changes you can make in your online teaching practice, small but impactful adjustments that result in significant learning gains.

• Explains how you can support your online students
• Helps your students find success in this non-traditional learning environment
• Covers online and blended learning
• Addresses specific challenges that online instructors face in higher education

Small Teaching Online presents research-based teaching techniques from an online instructional design expert and the bestselling author of Small Teaching.

FLOWER DARBY is a Senior Instructional Designer and adjunct faculty member at Northern Arizona University, where she's taught for 23 years. She also teaches online classes for Estrella Mountain Community College. Learn more about the Small Teaching approach at www.smallteaching.com.

JAMES M. LANG is a Professor of English and the Director of the D'Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption College. He writes a monthly column on teaching and learning for The Chronicle of Higher Education. He is the author of Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning.

About the Authors xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: Small Teaching Online xv

Part I Designing for Learning

1 Surfacing Backward Design 5

2 Guiding Learning Through Engagement 27

3 Using Media and Technology Tools 47

Part II Teaching Humans

4 Building Community 75

5 Giving Feedback 107

6 Fostering Student Persistence and Success 131

Part III Motivating Online Students (and Instructors)

7 Creating Autonomy 157

8 Making Connections 179

9 Developing as an Online Instructor 199

Conclusion: Finding Inspiration 221

References 227

Index 237