April 20, 2004
Less is More: Designing an Online Course
"In keeping with the intent of DEOSNEWS to offer a mix of practice descriptions and research results, this month’s issue offers a reflection on practice by a professor emeritus of journalism and American studies at the Pennsylvania State University.
Faculty workload in the online environment is a commonly identified focus of concern among participating and non-participating faculty alike. Of particular concern is the possibility that teaching online courses may sentence instructors to become the slaves of their course e-mail, threaded discussions, or chats. The emphasis of this article by an experienced online instructor is on balancing structure and openness in the design and management of online courses to promote a positive experience for both students and teachers."