Online Teaching at Its Best Merging Instructional Design with Teaching and Learning Research

What it’s about

In the wake of a global shift to remote and online education, faculty and instructional designers are tasked with creating effective learning experiences in unfamiliar formats. 'Online Teaching at Its Best' serves as an essential, comprehensive guide, bridging the often-separate worlds of instructional design and the scholarship of teaching and learning. The book moves beyond a focus on technology, arguing that great teaching is great teaching, regardless of the medium. It provides a systematic, evidence-based framework for designing exceptional online courses, starting with the establishment of significant, life-worthy learning outcomes, and then moving through the critical steps of creating coherent course structures, applying cognitive science principles to enhance learning and retention, intentionally building in motivational elements, fostering robust student interaction and community, and ensuring accessibility for all learners. For any educator determined to move beyond emergency remote teaching to create truly transformative online courses, this book is the definitive, research-backed roadmap.

The through-line

Who it’s for

A higher education instructor, faculty developer, or instructional designer who is committed to student success and wants to create truly effective and engaging online, remote, or hyflex courses. They are navigating the increased demand for online learning and are looking for a reliable, evidence-based framework to guide their course design and teaching practices.

The problem

Designing and teaching online courses often feels like a disjointed process focused on technology rather than pedagogy, leading to courses that are unengaging, ineffective, and result in low student satisfaction and retention. Feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and anxious about their ability to translate their teaching expertise to an online environment. They worry about keeping students engaged, fostering a sense of community, and whether they are truly providing a high-quality learning experience.

The plan

1. Define Significant Outcomes: Start by identifying what you want students to be able to do long after the course is over.
2. Design a Coherent Course: Systematically align your outcomes, assessments, and learning activities using proven instructional design models.
3. Apply Learning Science: Integrate principles from cognitive science to create learning experiences that enhance retention and understanding.
4. Build Motivation and Community: Intentionally design interactions, feedback, and activities that motivate students and foster a sense of belonging.
5. Ensure Universal Access: Follow clear steps to make your course accessible and beneficial for all learners from the beginning.

The payoff

Confidently designing and teaching high-quality, engaging, and pedagogically-sound online courses. · Seeing improved student motivation, deeper learning, higher satisfaction rates, and increased persistence. · Becoming a recognized expert in effective online teaching, equipped with a systematic and efficient process that saves time and reduces stress.

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