A beginners’ guide to teaching online

Illustration of an online class

Think-pair-share: how to structure online classes

When students discuss ideas and learn from one another, they absorb far more, which is the rationale behind the think-pair-share teaching model. Here José Guzman explains how he translated this to the online setting

José Guzman

University of Washington

Illustration of students interacting with the web

Top five strategies for integrating active learning into virtual classes

It is all too easy for remote learning to become a passive experience for students, sitting on their own at home. Here Steven Mintz outlines some strategies for ensuring students remain actively engaged with their online courses

Steven Mintz

University of Texas at Austin

Online video meeting

Running safe and secure online meetings and calls

New digital teaching methods risk exposing personal and sensitive information among students and staff. Here are best practice tips from Matthew Davis on running safe and secure online meetings and calls

Matthew Davis

Leeds University Business School

Tips on using technology to identify and help struggling students before they fall behind in online courses

Use technology to catch students before they fall

Working remotely with no face-to-face contact is a challenge for many students. May Lim and Li Siong Lim explain how educators can use technology to identify and help struggling students before they fall behind

May Lim

Singapore Institute of Technology

Rules to put in place to keep students engaged in the virtual learning environment

The rules of engagement for virtual learning

It can be a challenge to keep students’ attention from wandering when teaching online. Here Bill Boulding talks through key rules to put in place to keep everyone engaged in the virtual learning environment

Bill Boulding

Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

Tips to help students stay focused in online classes

Seven steps to help students stay engaged online

While the same psychological processes are at work online as in the classroom, it is much easier for students to disengage when learning remotely. Here are seven well-researched steps to help students stay focused on their online courses

Leonard Houx, André Spicer

Cass Business School, City University of London

Teachers stay present - don't take yourself out of your online classes

In defence of old-school teaching during a worldwide crisis

The rapid move to online teaching risks lecturers becoming over reliant on technology and steadily disappearing from their own courses. Here Glenn Geher argues the case for instructors remaining at the heart of their classes and only using technology to support their teaching

Glenn Geher

State University of New York at New Paltz

Online course design using strong pedagogy

Expert Q&A: Course design with strong pedagogy

Sophia Strickfaden, eLearning technologist for Colorado Colleges Online, talks through how to design online courses with strong pedagogy

Sophia Strickfaden

Colorado Community Colleges

Advice on designing online courses with lots of interactive elements boosts engagement

Transform engagement: Interaction and online course design

Advice on designing online courses with lots of interactive elements to boost engagement from Michele Hampton, professor at Cuyahoga Community College

Michele Hampton

Cuyahoga Community College

How to build outstanding pedagogy for zoom teaching

How to build outstanding pedagogy for teaching via Zoom

Too many educators still view online as a second-rate form of teaching, but it does not have to be. In this video, Stephen Hersh offers advice on how to offer first-class teaching via Zoom

Stephen Hersh

Northwestern University

Adapting teaching to get the most out of your synchronous online classes

Optimise your synchronous online classes

Teaching online requires adaptations to in-person teaching, whatever your level of experience. Jesper Hansen explains what key changes he has made to his teaching practice to optimise his synchronous online classes

Jesper Hansen

University College London

Selecting digital tools that support your pedagogy and teaching strategies

Tech tools to help enhance online and blended learning

With thousands of educational apps all promising to enhance online learning, choosing the right technology is a challenge. Miral Gibson explains why how pedagogy and teaching strategies should inform these decisions

Miral Gibson

Roehampton University

Communicate your online teaching structure to students before the course starts

How to communicate your online teaching structure to students – and why it matters

It is important to explain your online teaching plan to students at the start of the course, so they know what to expect. Here, Dawn Gilmore explains why and how to do this.

Dawn Gilmore

RMIT University

How to encourage peer to peer learning when teaching online courses

The power of peer to peer: how and why to encourage your students to learn from each other

Peer-to-peer learning brings major benefits for students and instructors. Here, Zachary Walker explains how to encourage your students to learn from each other and why this can be so effective when teaching online

Zachary Walker

University College London

How to incentivise students to complete their reading when teaching online

Pausing playback: training students to read and take notes in online classes

Reading and note-taking are vital to learning, but are too easily overlooked by remote students. Steven Mintz explains how you can boost students’ motivation to read and take notes during online classes

Steven Mintz

University of Texas at Austin