Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching (Jossey Bass Higher and Adult Education Series)

Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt have written a comprehensive reference for faculty to use to hone their skills as online instructors and for students to use to become more effective online learners. Filled with numerous examples from actual online courses and insights from teachers and students, Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom covers the entire online teaching process. This essential guide offers helpful suggestions for dealing with such critical issues as evaluating effective courseware, working with online classroom dynamics, addressing the needs of the online student, making the transition to online teaching, and promoting the development of the learning community.

Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt have written a comprehensive reference for faculty to use to hone their skills as online instructors and for students to use to become more effective online learners. Filled with numerous examples from actual online courses and insights from teachers and students, Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom covers the entire online teaching process. This essential guide offers helpful suggestions for dealing with such critical issues as evaluating effective courseware, working with online classroom dynamics, addressing the needs of the online student, making the transition to online teaching, and promoting the development of the learning community.

"A comprehensive and concise description of key issues faced by every online educator, administrator, and developer. Following the tips provided by Palloff and Pratt will move online instruction beyond being merely electronic correspondence education."

—Rita-Marie Conrad, online instructor, Florida State University

"Gives comfort and aid to online teachers not by giving easy answers to hard questions, but by raising all the questions and issues that online faculty are concerned with and by showing where the research and national discussion is on these important issues."

—Donald B. Hart, assistant director for faculty development, Thomas Edison State College

"Will resonate with professional development staff who are seeking guidance in preparing faculty to be effective online teachers and students to be successful online learners. . . .the 'bible' for online course development."

—Jessica A. Somers, director, Academic Innovation, Advanced Learning Technologies, University System of Georgia Board of Regents

"Very practical and applicable . . .an invaluable tool for any faculty preparing to teach in the virtual world."

—Gary A. Girard, director, off-campus programs, University of South Dakota

The Authors

Rena M. Palloff, Ph.D., and Keith Pratt, Ph.D., are the managing partners of Crossroads Consulting Group, working with educational and training organizations in developing and implementing distance learning programs. They are the authors of the Frandson Award-winning book Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom (Jossey-Bass, 1999).

Booknews

The issues of teaching online are often similar to traditional teaching with the important difference that interaction is taking place in virtual space rather than face-to-face. Palloff and Pratt (authors and consultants for distance learning) provide clear, basic assistance and guidelines for teaching online based on their own and others' experiences in a readable style that includes many anecdotes. They offer tips on troubleshooting key elements such as hardware and software, developing course content, and supporting and evaluating students. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 List of Figures, Tables, and Exhibits......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 About the Authors......Page 20 PART ONE: RETHINKING EDUCATION FOR AN ONLINE WORLD......Page 22 1 Online Learning in the New Millennium......Page 24 2 The Art of Online Teaching......Page 41 3 Administrative Issues and Concerns......Page 58 4 The Tools of Online Teaching......Page 70 PART TWO: TEACHING AND LEARNING IN CYBERSPACE......Page 86 5 Transforming Courses for the Online Classroom......Page 88 6 Teaching Courses Developed by Others......Page 114 7 Working with the Virtual Student......Page 128 8 Online Classroom Dynamics......Page 146 9 Lessons Learned in the Cyberspace Classroom......Page 173 Resource A: A Comparison of Syllabi for Online and Face-to-Face Delivery......Page 186 Resource B: Systems Theories Course in CourseInfo and eCollege......Page 198 Resource C: Additional Online Resources......Page 214 References......Page 218 Index......Page 222 The issues of teaching online are often similar to traditional teaching with the important difference that interaction is taking place in virtual space rather than face-to-face. Palloff and Pratt (authors and consultants for distance learning) provide clear, basic assistance and guidelines for teaching online based on their own and others' experiences in a readable style that includes many anecdotes. They offer tips on troubleshooting key elements such as hardware and software, developing course content, and supporting and conducting student assessment. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) distributed by Syndetic Solutions, LLC This text offers advice on planning to teach in cyberspace, from the decisions that must be made with regard to course content, course packaging, and choosing courseware and hardware, to how to support online students, manage the online course, and evaluate learning online Because of the changing nature of today's students, economic pressures, and rapid implementation of distance learning courses and programs, definitions of what constitutes education and learning are changing, too.