After reading “Teaching Online: A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice” by Claire Howell Major, I learn a lot. The authors offer a new theory of online learning, but also provide case studies and examples. But most importantly, explores communication, educational spaces and places, and building literacy. I think this book provides useful strategies. Teaching in higher education has changed recently given the shift from on-site to online instruction. In each chapter, the authors provide suggestions from others to elaborate on the ideas presented in the chapter. The placement of these sections sometimes interrupts the flow. In addition, the book provides instructors with best practice examples from successful cases online as well as cutting-edge thinking from leading academics and educational technologists. According to Claire Howell Major, “Online learning” is a specific thing: a single approach to any teaching that takes place on the Internet. Over the past decade, authors have used many different terms, seemingly interchangeable, to denote teaching and learning via the Internet, thus reinforcing this view. These terms include online learning, e-learning, Web-based instruction, Internet-based instruction, computer-based learning, virtual learning, and a myriad of combinations of these terms. In practice, however, the diversity that exists in online courses is impressive, showing the myriad ways in which individuals can be taught in online courses. New elements associated with online instruction include enrollment, time, volume, platform, and pathway. A range of different combinations of these elements are possible for individual online courses; thus, these elements predict the composition of the course at a fundamental level(77). Overall, I would recommend this book as a guide for instructors considering addressing changes when moving from on-site to online learning. In Online Teaching, Claire Howell Major describes the changes brought about by the use of such technologies for university faculty and offers realistic strategies for teaching challenges beyond digital. Teaching Online provides teachers with a thoughtful synthesis of educational theory, research, and practice, as well as a review of strategies for managing the pedagogical changes involved in teaching online.
Reference
Major, C. H. (2015). Teaching Online – A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/detail.action?docID=3318874 (pp. 76-108)