ELT article published by Prof. Jonathan Acua at http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.

com/

Transitioning from F2F Teaching into Online Instruction

The role of an instructor in on online course shifts 180 when compared to a F2F teacher. The instructor becomes a guide on the side- rather than a lecturer. But this guidance implies understanding the need to have material already predetermined and available to students from Day 1. Instead of the usual weekly or daily planning, our students have already-prepared modules, which have been carefully thought and prepared by the teacher. This ahead-of-time preparation with material in various types of digital formats is what differentiates the online instructor from the F2F teacher. Although I have never experienced being a 100% online instructor myself, I do have some experience in hybrid environments. Ones role as a teacher changes exponentially in a very positive and unique way. Preparing the learning modules with very concrete and reachable learning outcomes is a

ELT article published by Prof. Jonathan Acua at http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.com/

time-consuming, pain-staking task but worthwhile trying. Encouraging students to take their own learning in their hands with ones guidance is the very first step to take when beginning an online or blended learning course. Somehow the instructor becomes the curricular designer of the course and the student motivator who strives hard to convince them that autonomy in learning does exist. Your role also shifts from lecturer to facilitator. The instructor and the students are no longer trapped by class time. Whatever that happens in a F2F classroom can be replicated in an online environment by means of web tools available and free of charge. For instance, in a pronunciation blog I created for one of my ELT content courses at Universidad Latina (http://bin02.blogspot.com/),

I embedded a chat box to give students the change to

either interact among themselves on the blog page by sharing information or posing questions about the class content to one another, or to ask me since I signed in a couple of nights a week. It has proven to be a helpful tool that our digital students are accustomed to using: chat rooms. Becoming an online instructor can be really a thrill, but make sure you do work on some adjustments: 1 2 3 Transfer your lecturing into useful online resources to work on assignments, projects, forums, group discussions, etc. Bear in mind your new role: facilitator, a guide on the side. Remind students of your presence by having students interact

ELT article published by Prof. Jonathan Acua at http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.com/

regularly, by being available when pupils are in need of answer for their questions, and by reminding them of deadlines and course events. Dont leave them alone. 4 5 6 7 Design interactive activities and tasks such as case study analysis, WebQuests, surveys and the like. Design activities, projects, tasks, etc. beforehand, so you have an idea how long it can take students to complete them. Limit yourself to using online free resources and what is provided by your institution. Try a new piece of technology before you decide to incorporate it. Knowing how it really works can help you train students on its use. 8 Motivate students to go beyond the classroom to learn more outside by visiting blogs, wikis, forums or by using social media. 9 10 Create activities that allow students to exchange ideas and information and that help them learn cooperatively. Explore the pedagogical reason for using a new piece of technology. Perhaps you may find out that it is not really necessary. 11 Be aware of the learning preferences among your students. Let it be borne in mind that knowing these preferences can help you in designing activities much efficiently. 12 Always provide feedback to your students, so they really know that they are not by themselves.

ELT article published by Prof. Jonathan Acua at http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.com/

Learning is a journey for all of us when we are the students in a course, and it is a satisfying one. Just imagine how challenging but rewarding it is when you want to teach your students and achieve the course learning goals.

To fully develop and comprehend this teaching issue, its advisable to research and expand these areas: 1 2 3 4 5 Blended and hybrid learning Learning preferences and virtual environments How to create interactive activities for online courses Web 2.0 tools for teaching Promoting collaborative learning in VLEs Professor Jonathan Acua-Solano ELT Instructor & Trainer based in Costa Rica IATEFL Member and NCTE Affiliate Career Teacher at CCCN Senior ELT Professor at Universidad Latina Freelance ELT Consultant four OUP in Central America

ELT article published by Prof. Jonathan Acua at http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.com/

For further comments or suggestions, reach me at: @jonacuso Twitter jonacuso@gmail.com Gmail Other blogs and sites I often write for my students at the university are: 1. Pronunciation 1 3. Pronunciation 2 2. Readding Skills 1 4. Computering Applications in Education