Encouraging participation

Philosophy of the progrmmme should continualy reflect participation and collaboration. Technical barriers are usuaoly short term and ultimately resolved.

Activitiesi should bebased on a published timetable reflecting the academic year

Inductions process for online learners - how to be an elearner, activities around the online environment

Have an area for inofrmal chat- tutor should joint in to help relationships build

Encoiurage non contributors using back channels - email and phone

Ensure contintuity of design

Tutors should model the behaviour they seek actively contributing

Real tasks to be used drawing on learners experience

Tutors have different roles online - coaching and learning, challening learners to thin

summarise as converstaion progresses starting new threads and closing others - signifiying new topic

Impertiave to give feedback on postings

Many students have passive mode to online learning activities lurking without realising how kuch more theuy would understand if they contributed. Contirbuting input requires the student to comprehend what is being done to create ideas of topic in hand organize thinking and express that thinking.

Lurking is a bad learning style habit? (Is this always true?). oNe hallmark of good education (or good design?) is ability to mobilize a variety of learning styles.

Require particiaption - making a portion of the grade relating to particiaiotn online even getting the tutor to grade on quality of postings

Form learning teams

Make the activity relevant to the learner experiences - choice of topic within an activity

Dont settle for opinions - opinion s should be supported with data and rational discourse and re examined in light of what others in group say

Structure activities - guides to help them think of things to say that are academically meaningful. Debates requiring student ot post to a position to which others respond with pro or con arguments

Require a deliverable - student learn best when they have to integrate, sunthesise and apply info by creating a deliverable

Tutors should know hwat quality work is and intervene as work is being developed to ensure correct direction

Peer grading - students are asked to grade the input of others on the course.