Time-Saving Tips in Online Learning

Online learning saves time for students. Students in online courses have 24/7 access to their course materials, other students, and their instructor. For working students, this is an incredible benefit. But we often hear that online learning takes a lot of an instructor’s time. I have found that it can be, but when a course is set up in advance to take advantage of a learning management system’s features, a lot of time can be saved. Many of these techniques make for a more engaging experience for the students and less stress for the instructor.

1. Create a comprehensive syllabus
   1. Move all tech support to your college’s help desk. If you start answering technology questions, the students will keep asking them.
   2. Create a syllabus quiz.
   3. Create a course “scavenger hunt.”
2. Make your course easy to navigate
   1. Keep as much content as you can no more than two clicks away.
   2. Use a consistent format week-to-week or module-to-module. This lets your students know what to expect each week.
3. Schedule your time
   1. Do not work on your online course because you can; work on it because you have scheduled time.
   2. Let the students know your schedule.
   3. Access your course consistently (e.g. three times a week) and respond to email promptly (with-in 48 hours). Let the students know your communication policies up front and follow them.
4. Automate your course
   1. Take advantage of time-release features of announcements and other content.
   2. Record and reuse your lectures.
   3. Let your learning management system handle as much of the grading as you can.
   4. Use a detailed grading rubric.
5. Distributing and exchanging documents
   1. Use the assignment feature instead of e-mail or the digital drop box.
   2. Have the students use the attach document feature in the forums.
6. Centralized question and answers
   1. Use a discussion forum for “Frequently Asked Questions.”
   2. Create a FAQ page.
   3. Ask students to ask questions in the discussion board rather than e-mail. Give extra credit for students who answer questions in the “Question” forum.
7. Use online groups with a deliverable
   1. Let the students do the work.
   2. Do not respond to every posting, respond to the deliverable.
   3. Assign student moderators for selected discussion topics.