Online Learning News - April 22, 2020

Due to Popular Demand, 3 New Sessions Added!

Webinar: How to Teach Online Effectively Using Zoom

Click on the date to register:

Monday, May 11 at 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET

Tuesday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Friday, June 19 at 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET

Join Contact North | Contact Nord Research Associate, Dr. Ron Owston, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., for a free webinar focusing on::

• How to use Zoom effectively to engage with and involve students in their learning;
• How to use Zoom, not just to deliver lectures or make one-way presentations to students, but to facilitate small group work, class challenges, and student presentations;
• How to move from talking head to active learning with Zoom;
• How to make learning valuable and successful when teaching via Zoom, and;
• What are the “top tips” users have from using Zoom for teaching.

Register Early!

Previous webinars have sold out quickly at 200 registrations each with participants from Canada, the US, Europe, Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand:

Algoma University, Atikokan Literacy Inc, Durham College, Cambrian College, Hamilton Literacy Council, Humber College, Fanshawe College, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, McGill University, McMaster University, Queens University, Ohski-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute, Penn State University, Ryerson University, University of Alberta, University of Auckland, University of British Columbia, University of Edinburgh, University of Geneva, University of Management and Technology, University of Texas at Austin, University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier University, YMCA, York University and more!

NOTE: A basic knowledge of how to set up and join a Zoom meeting is assumed. If you do not have these skills, visit http://zoom.us to get a free account, or get one from your institution, to familiarize yourself before the session.

Read The 10 Fundamentals of Teaching Online for Faculty and Instructors

In ten short guides, Contact North | Contact Nord's Research Associate, Dr. Tony Bates, provides a succinct introduction for faculty and instructors to the fundamentals of teaching online and how to do it well. 

These ten short guides are drawn from his bestselling book, Teaching in a Digital Age, which has 200,000 downloads since its publication in April 2015 as an open textbook and is available in ten languages.

Dr. Bates draws from his 40 years' experience in teaching online and at a distance, best practices from around the world and extensive research in online learning.

Download The 10 Fundamentals of Teaching Online for Faculty and Instructors

Online Admissions Program to Expand Access to Engineering at Technical University of Denmark

Discover the Technical University of Denmark’s online admissions program for adults wishing to qualify to apply for an engineering degree program. Many of the students have backgrounds in apprenticeship and technical education. A blended learning approach encompasses face-to-face weekend or day-long sessions, synchronous online delivery with teachers spending no more than 15 minutes on any one activity, asynchronous access to teaching materials and homework. 

Moving your classes online due to COVID-19?
Have questions about teaching online?
Ask an expert!

Contact North I Contact Nord’s world experts from Canada, the United States, Europe and Africa are volunteering to help you.

e-Mail your questions about anything related to teaching online to [email protected] or submit your question online on teachonline.ca. and receive a response within 2 business days. Questions and answers will be posted for quick reference.

The search tool on teachonline.ca is available to help with your immediate requests. Enter keywords in the search tool and it displays a list of relevant resources.

Leveraging the Opportunities and Addressing the Challenges of Immersive Technologies - The Promise of "Reality-Like" Experiences

The fourth webinar in this series was held on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, where Dr. Bates offered insights, practical advice, and guidelines about using virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality in post-secondary education.

For those not able to participate, the link to the recordings, slides and unanswered questions is available on https://teachonline.ca/webinars.

Searchable Directory of 65+ Open Universities Worldwide

Throughout the world, more than 65 open universities provide open and equal access to education. Open universities do not require any formal education or credentials to be admitted. They have a common commitment to open access to quality learning and student success. 

Use the directory to search location, contact information, delivery modes, enrolment and more!

Search the directory

Read Dr. Tony Bates’ New Blog Post

Read Contact North I Contact Nord Research Associate Dr. Tony Bates’ latest blog post:

What should we be doing about online learning when social distancing ends?

Must-Read Books on Online Learning

Must-Read Books on Online Learning features books and articles of interest to those involved in the expansion and improvement of online learning.

For Faculty and Instructors

Assessment Strategies for Online Learning: Engagement and Authenticity

For Instructional Designers

Innovative Assessment in Higher Education: A Handbook for Academic Practitioners [2nd Edition]

For Policy-Makers and Administrators

Improving Assessment in Higher Education – A Whole-of-Institution Approach

Browse all Must-Read Books

Don’t Panic: The Hitch-hiker's Guide to Alternative Assessment

This guide by Damian Gordon, Lecturer at the  Technological University Dublin, is designed to help instructors move into online teaching and assessment. The assessment approaches are worth exploring and can be used as alternatives to examinations. 

Browse the guide at: http://www.damiantgordon.com/Guide.pdf