Study+Instruments

Parallel Survey
Best Practices in Teaching Online (Instructor) Best Practices in Teaching Online (Student)

Focus group questions
What elements in your online course contribute to your students succeeding in the course?

What are the challenges you faced so far in teaching online classes?

How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your online teaching? What tools do you use?

What help and/or support do you want to enable you to teach online courses more effectively? What resources do you refer to or need?

#1 Encourage contact between student and faculty
(How students are encouraged to contact the instructor.)

I1. I always respond to comments/queries that are posted online. (Yes/No)--- change "online" to "posted through Blackboard or in online chat rooms." Should we add anything that refers to the timing? Maybe we should separate Blackboard from Online chat rooms? I always respond to...posted through blackboard. I always....asked in online chat rooms. [With a big class, it might be hard to do so.] S1. Instructor responds to comments/queries that are posted online. (Yes/No)

I2. I provide multiple channels of communication, such as emails, discussion board, and office hours, to address student queries outside of class time. (Yes/No) S2. Instructor provides multiple channels of communication, such as emails, discussion board, and office hours, to address student queries outside of class time. (Yes/No)

I3. I encourage the use of online feedback tools, such as hand raise, applause, and laughter, during class. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor encourages the use online feedback tools, such as hand raise, applause, and laughter, during class. (Yes/No)

I4. I solicit student inputs during class through specific questions. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor solicits student inputs during class through specific questions. (Yes/No)

I5. I allow the use of instant messenging function throughout the class for students to ask questions. (Yes/No)--Y ou mean during Wimba live sessions? That might be hard. I can't monitor IM during live sessions. Revise to "Allow the use of IM after class." S5. Instructor allows the use of instant messenging function throughout the class for students to ask questions. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have your interaction with the students, inside and outside the class, help them to succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have your interaction with the instructor, inside and outside the class, help you to succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have your interaction with the students, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have your interaction with the instructor, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#2 Develop reciprocity and cooperation among students
(Whether students were encouraged to work in groups or teams.)

I1. I have assignments/projects that involve group work. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor has assignments/projects that involve group work. (Yes/No)

I2. I encourage students to share their learning experiences with each other. (Yes/No) S2. Instructor encourages students to share their learning experiences with one each other. (Yes/No)

I3. I allow students to evaluate each other on individual contribution for group work. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor allows students to evaluate each other on individual contribution for group work. (Yes/No)

I4. I encourage students to collaborate during class. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor encourages students to collaborate during class. (Yes/No)

I5. I use break-out rooms for group activities, such as discussion, brain-storming, and presentation, during class. (Yes/No) S5. Instructor uses break-out rooms for group activities, such as discussion, brain-storming, and presentation, during class. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have group work, inside and outside the class, help the students succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have group work, inside and outside the class, help you to succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have group work, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have group work, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#3 Use active learning techniques
(How course content was delivered to engage students.)

I1. I provide relevant online resources about the topic of the course. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor provides relevant online resources about the topic of the course. (Yes/No)

I2. I tell brief anecdotal stories or use analogies to demonstrate a point in class. (Yes/No) S2. Instructort tells brief anecdotal stories or uses analogies to demonstrate a point in class. (Yes/No)

I3. I use multimedia to present class content. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor uses multimedia to present class content. (Yes/No)

I4. I provide opportunities in the assignments/projects for students to apply what they have learned in class. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor provides opportunities in the assignments/projects for students to apply what they have learned in class. (Yes/No)

I5. In what ways have you make learning engaging, inside and outside the class, to help the students succeed in the course? Explain what "engaging" mean. S5. In what ways have the instructor make learning engaging, inside and outside the class, to help you succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I6. In what ways have you make learning engaging, inside and outside the class, to help improve the conduct of your course? S6. In what ways have the instructor make learning engaging, inside and outside the class, to help improve the conduct of the course?

#4 Provide prompt feedback
(Turn-around time on assignments, tests, and quizzes as well as availability of grades online.)

I1. I use electronic quizzes/tests that immediately calculate and reveal students’ scores. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor uses electronic quizzes/tests that immediately calculate and reveal students’ scores. (Yes/No)

I2. I provide feedback to students' assignments/projects in a timely fashion. (Yes/No) S2. Instructor provides feedback to students' assignments/projects in a timely fashion. (Yes/No)

I3. I post grades online in a timely fashion. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor posts grades online in a timely fashion. (Yes/No)

I4. I have a moderator or co-instructor to help address multiple issues concurrently during class. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor has a moderator or co-instructor to help address multiple issues concurrently during class. (Yes/No)

I5. I encourage students to specify the type of feedback they need to help them in the course. (Yes/No) S5. Instructor encourages students to specify the type of feedback they need to help them in the course. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have the responsiveness of your feedback, inside and outside the class, help the students succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have the responsiveness of the instructor's feedback, inside and outside the class, help you succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have responsiveness of your feedback, inside and outside the class, help you to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have responsiveness of the instructor's feedback, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#5 Emphasize time on task
(Managing time to complete learning activities expeditiously.)

I1. I present the lesson agenda to ensure there is time to cover all critical parts of the content during class. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor presents the lesson agenda to ensure there is time to cover all critical parts of the lesson content during class. (Yes/No)

I2. I remind students frequently on assignment/project deadlines. (Yes/No) S2. Instructor reminds students frequently on assignment/project deadlines. (Yes/No)

I3. I use the calendar to help students manage their assignments/projects. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor uses the calendar to help students manage their assignments/projects. (Yes/No)

I4. I track student online activities, such as frequency and time of access to course website. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor tracks student online activities, such as frequency and time of access to course website. (Yes/No)

I5. I provide relevant resources to help students who may face informational technology/technical issues. (Yes/No) S5. Instructor provides relevant resources to help students who may face informational technology/technical issues. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have your emphasis in time on task, inside and outside the class, help the students succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have the instructor's emphasis in time on task, inside and outside the class, help you succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have your emphasis in time on task, inside and outside the class, help you to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have the instructor's emphasis in time on task, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#6 Communicate high expectations
(Provide examples of exemplary work and penalties for late assignments and unacceptable student work.)

I1. I ask students to revise assignments/projects that do not meet course expectations. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor asks students to revise assignments/projects that do not meet course expectations. (Yes/No)

I2. I use standards to communicate expectations for assignments/projects. (Yes/No)--- What do you mean by "standards"? S2. Instructor uses standards to communicate expectations for assignments/projects. (Yes/No)

I3. I provide rubrics to help students understand the expectations for exemplary work. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor provides rubrics to help students understand the expectations for exemplary work. (Yes/No)

I4. I clarify course expectations throughout the semester. (Yes/No)-- -Combine questions 4 and 5 S4. Instructor clarifies course expectations throughout the semester. (Yes/No)

I5. I emphasize the course expectations repeatedly throughout the semester. (Yes/No) S5. Instructor emphasizes the course expectations repeatedly throughout the semester. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have your effort to communicate high expectations, inside and outside the class, help the students succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have the instructor's effort to communicate high expectations, inside and outside the class, help you succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have your effort to communicate high expectations, inside and outside the class, help you to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have the instructor's effort to communicate high expectations, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#7 Respect diverse talents and ways of learning
(Provide flexibility to accommodate students’ learning styles and preferences.)

I1. I try to find out about my students’ prior academic experiences to make sure they have the pre-requisite knowledge at the beginning of the course. (Yes/No) S1. Instructor tries to find out about students’ prior academic experiences to make sure they have the pre-requisite knowledge at the beginning of the course. (Yes/No)

I2. I have assignments/projects that allow students to determine the content topic of their choice. (Yes/No) S3. Instructors have assignments/projects that allow students to determine the content topic of their choice. (Yes/No)

I3. I have assignments/projects that are designed differently, such as research paper, oral presentation, and multimedia presentation, to accommodate different learning preferences. (Yes/No) S3. Instructor has assignments/projects that are designed differently, such as research paper, oral presentation, and multimedia presentation, to accommodate different learning preferences. (Yes/No)

I4. I upload arhived sessions timely for students who cannot attend the class. (Yes/No) S4. Instructor uploads arhived sessions timely for students who cannot attend the class. (Yes/No)

I5. I provide self-assessment for students to discover their strengths and weaknesses. (Yes/No) S5. Instructor provides self-assessment for students to discover their strengths and weaknesses. (Yes/No)

I6. In what ways have your flexbility in instructional approaches, inside and outside the class, help the students succeed in the course? S6. In what ways have the instructor's flexbility in instructional approaches, inside and outside the class, help you succeed in the course?
 * Qualitative comments**

I7. In what ways have your flexbility in instructional approaches, inside and outside the class, help you to improve the conduct of your course? S7. In what ways have the instructor's flexbility in instructional approaches, inside and outside the class, help to improve the conduct of the course?

#8 Demography
I1. Number of times you have taught this class online? I2. Avergae class size. I3. Comfort level in using technology to teach online classes.

S1. Age S2. Gender S3. Experience in online courses. S4. Comfort level in using Internet technology, such as search engine, discussion board, web conferencing tools.

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