The Nature of Online Instruction
Introduction
A course, is a course, is a course! Whether designing a traditional course or one delivered electronically, the same methods, procedures, and care that is taken to produce content.
The traditional description of an online or electronic-based course is that of a course that is delivered through the Internet and web-based software where students interact with the instructor and other students via email. The class format is very flexible for busy schedules due to the fact that students can log on to the course at any time of the day (or night). However, certain computer skills and a degree of determination (no procrastination) are necessary to be successful.
A Southern University Perspective
 |
|---|
Teaching Takes Planning |
At Southern University, online courses (also known as, web-based or internet-connected courses) are viewed as the foundation for effective electronic-based teaching and learning (e-teaching and e-learning, respectively). Effective e-learning by students does not occur unless you the instructor design, plan, and implement effective instruction (teaching). A simplistic view of e-teaching is teaching done remotely, in a virtual classroom, or provided as face-to-face electronic-based instruction or via telecommunications. At Southern University, e-teaching is defined as the deliverance of course content in the form of text, images, video, audio, animations, simulations, and/or tutorials which is assembled and transformed into stand-alone modules of interactive e-learning. Additionally, students' e-learning is viewed as resulting from effective e-teaching and effective use of electronic enhancements in the classroom, on the internet, on television, or from the use of media in anytime, anyplace learning opportunities. Web-based courses provide opportunities for e-learning through the use of electronic enhancements such as the internet to bridge distances and enable people to learn about matter where they are, to accommodate different learning styles, and to increase the quality of student and faculty interactions.
