E1 Online Faculty Orientation

Photo of a woman working on a laptop from her home with red text on a white background that reads: Teach Online with E-Campus
Prerequisite: None

Regional E-Campus' E1: Online Faculty Orientation is specifically designed to assist faculty who are new to online learning and/or Miami University Regionals E-Campus to begin developing technical and pedagogical skills using Miami University E-Campus tools and processes to provide high-quality online learning experiences.

Throughout E1, faculty and instructors have the opportunity to:

  • explore e-learning best practices
  • navigate MU's learning management system (Canvas)
  • develop course delivery success strategies suitable for the online environment with Miami tools and processes
  • explore research-based methods for stimulating online student engagement to promote retention
  • develop online course management efficiency techniques

The orientation is self-paced. Most participants complete the orientation in approximately 7-8 hours, in as little as a few days or over the course of a few weeks.

E1 may be started at any time. To register, please email ecampushelp@miamioh.edu or call 513.217.4003 (x74003) to speak with our E-Campus Solutions Team.

 

E1 Online Faculty Orientation Outcomes

Module 1: What is E-Learning?

  • Explain what E-Learning is and its importance to Miami Regionals.
  • Explain how the various functions of Miami University Regionals E-Campus help faculty create high quality, standards-aligned and outcomes-based online courses that prioritize student success and retention.
  • Describe how online learning meets the needs of today's higher education students.
  • List the advantages of teaching online for instructors.

Module 2: Teaching an Online Course

  • Customize Canvas notification preferences.
  • Describe how online learning meets the needs of today’s higher education students.
  • Identify the differences between teaching face-to-face and online courses.
  • Employ time management strategies to maximize efficiency when teaching an online course.

Module 3: Instructor Presence

  • Explain how the Community of Inquiry model increases cognitive, social, and teaching presence in an online course.
  • Use video in innovative ways to increase instructor presence in an online environment.
  • Employ strategies of the VOCAL method to increase instructor presence in an online environment.
  • Use communication strategies to enhance instructor presence in an online environment.
  • Update Canvas profile information.
  • Write “About the Instructor” information for the course Syllabus page.

Module 4: Student Engagement

  • Use Canvas communication tools to effectively communicate with students in an online learning environment.
  • List tips and techniques for planning and moderating effective online discussions.
  • List strategies for communicating clear, impactful, and effective messages though both text and multimedia.
  • List strategies to establish a positive learning environment that will be conducive to increased student engagement.

Module 5: Managing an Online Course at MUR

  • Identify instructional content items that may require additional resources in order to make them accessible.
  • List the steps that must be taken upon receiving a Letter of Accommodation for an online course.
  • List strategies to manage difficult students in the online classroom.

Module 6: Preparing for Your First Online Course

  • List the steps that must be taken to prepare for the start of an MUR E-Campus course.
  • Record an introduction video for an online course.
  • Write a welcome email for an online course.
  • Locate the "Course Author Notes and Important Course Information" page for an MUR E-Campus course.
  • Locate course author contact information for an MUR E-Campus course.

laptop with Canvas course homepage open

Canvas Instructor Orientation

Although not a requirement, another resource that will provide you with additional tools needed to teach an E-Campus course is the Canvas Instructor Orientation. All faculty and instructors at Miami University Regionals, whether they are starting their first year or their twentieth (plus!), will learn something new in our Canvas Instructor Orientation. Designed to help 'Teacher' users better understand how to navigate and use the functions and features of the learning management system (LMS), it's a great resource that will help you get started in Canvas as well as help you further develop your level of skill and usage of Canvas over time. You may self-enroll in our Canvas Instructor Orientation at any time.

Enroll in Canvas Instructor Orientation

Canvas Instructor Orientation Outcomes

Module 1

  • Identify ways to import existing content into a face-to-face course.
  • Identify tools to create new content within a course.
  • Identify ways to post a course syllabus.

Module 2

  • Define the options for assignments.
  • List the benefits of grouping assignments.
  • Define the options for discussions.
  • Define the options for quizzes.
  • Identify ways to create quiz questions.
  • Recognize the difference between graded and ungraded assignments.
  • Canvas tools and features covered in this module include: Assignments, Assignment Groups, Discussions, Quizzes.

Module 3

  • Identify ways to customize left-hand course navigation (show/hide, order, custom APP).
  • Define the options for modules (lock dates, requirements, pre-requisites).
  • Select home page layout options (NOTE: For face-to-face courses only; Online/Hybrid courses all utilize a consistent E-Campus Template).
  • Canvas tools and features covered in this module include: Home Page Layout, Course Navigation, Modules.

Module 4

  • Define the purpose of using rubrics.
  • Identify ways rubrics are used for grading (free form, for grading).
  • Identify the feedback options of the SpeedGraderTM (rubric comments, DocViewer, general feedback in text, audio/video).
  • Recognize the details of an assignment submission in the SpeedGraderTM.
  • Identify the annotation features of DocViewer.
  • List the options in the Gradebook.
  • Canvas tools and features covered in this module include: Rubrics, SpeedGraderTM, Gradebook.

Module 5

  • Identify the options in a user profile (display name, avatar, title/role, bio, links).
  • State the purpose of managing notification preferences.
  • List the benefits of organizing course-related groups.
  • Describe the options of the inbox (canvas messaging system/conversations).
  • Identify the navigation options of the global dashboard.
  • Canvas tools and features covered in this module include: User Settings, Profile, Notification Preferences, Groups, Global Dashboard.

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If at any point you would like support or guidance while you are teaching a distance learning course, please connect with us!  We are here to help.