When you hear “lecture,” you likely picture a classroom full of students with an instructor talking and clicking through PowerPoint slides. In an online course, you may visualize a video of the instructor reciting their content on camera. However, “lecture” does not necessarily mean “video.” While lecture videos are often the go-to for instructors, podcasts can be an equally effective way to share information. Podcasting may be the preferred medium to dive deeply into your content.

Flip the traditional grading approach on its head by implementing a contract grading system in your course. As the name states, contract grading is a contract between student and instructor on how grades will be awarded. This system prioritizes students’ labor or effort over abstract “quality” of work.

There’s no need to wait until the last week of class to assign your final project. Breaking up your final project into smaller chunks due throughout the semester is a hedge against academic dishonesty because it alleviates the undue pressure of high-stakes exams and short turnaround times.

Meet the Instructor highlights the scholarship, teaching, and research career of Dr. Shelley McMahon.

A virtual field trip is a unique way to immerse your students in your course content, take them to new places, and tell a story that a traditional lecture video can’t.

The syllabus is both a contract between the instructor and their students and a marketing tool - some students may determine whether they want to take or stay in a class based on the syllabus. For these reasons, it's important to reflect on what your syllabus is saying about your course or the types of students your course is open to.