Ease on Down the River: Best Practices for Teaching Developmental Reading in the Virtual Classroom

Best Practices for Teaching Developmental Reading in the Virtual Classroom

Leslie A. Salley, Baker College Online

Developmental students do not have the skills (reading, writing, computer, etc.) to complete an online course.

Developmental students need more one-on-one attention and regular feedback than an online course can provide.

Developmental students cannot have online discussions.

Developmental students lose out on the social aspect of the classroom.

What are some other reasons developmental students cannot do the work online?

The US Department of Education’s recent report states that online education is just as effective a learning platform as face-to-face learning.

http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf

http://www.league.org/blog/post.cfm/teaching-developmental-reading-with-hybrid-instruction

http://www.league.org/league/projects/beo/

Video of Baker College Online

� Six-week class

� Small class size

� Required level of participation

� Assignments and grading

� Department-developed “master” course

� Lab component� Pretest� Skills Exercises� Posttest

� Short text

� Critical thinking practice

� Reading/learning strategy quizzes

� Chunked essay project

� Frequent announcements� Clear, explicit instructions � Reminders

� Multiples points of contact� Q & A forum� Email � Phone� Facebook� Skype/Yahoo Messenger

� Discussion boards� Seminars

� Tutorials/videos

� Learning resources/tutoring

� What kinds of online developmental programs or courses are you offering at your institution?

� How successful are they?

� If you do not teach online, what is stopping you?

Leslie A. Salley, M.A.Online Instructor & eLearning SpecialistEnglish, Reading, Sociology, & Teacher Educationleslie.salley@yahoo.com417-766-6691

www.linkedin.com/in/lesliesalley