"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."
— Bill Gates
Maybe you have been tapped to offer a popular course via the Internet, or you are looking to take advantage of the growing opportunities available to expand your professional portfolio. Online teaching has many advantages for students and teachers, such as 24-hour availability and a wealth of readily available resources. But it also has significant disadvantages, such as a lack of face-to-face contact and the distraction of being just a click away from online games not related to the course. However, if you are willing to embrace the strengths and weaknesses of the medium,
you can open the doors to an outstanding educational experience for your students and yourself.
Teaching online often seems daunting to those with no previous experience; however, individuals who are already teaching in a face-to-face format have the most important skills they will need to be successful online educators: subject-matter expertise, the abilities to plan and manage a course, and the expertise to support and mentor students.
Even if you are not currently tech-savvy, computer skills and the knowledge to create, manage, and teach courses online can be gained with perseverance and guidance. Whether you are delivering a course that has already been designed by someone else, or are starting from scratch, this article will provide guidance in obtaining or strengthening your technical skills by outlining the tools and knowledge necessary to be a successful online educator. If you would like to check your general readiness to teach online, Penn State University provides a
tool to help determine your current level of preparation.
There is no shortcut for turning a successful face-to-face course into an online one. The first step in becoming a successful online educator is to address the following areas in regards to your own technological literacy: