Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies For The Virtual Classroom

Building an online community is discussed at length in online learning research and practice. Yetscholars and instructors continue to debate if building an online community is really necessary or just nice? And how do you create a community online? This book club will discuss these questions and more as authors Palloff and Pratt explore the development of online classroom environments that encourage a sense of community and empower students to take charge of their own learning. The first part of the book provides advice on how to transition a course to the online environment and the strategies behind building an online learning community. The authors provide both empirical and anecdotal evidence to support their claim that community building is critical to student success online. Part two of the book is a practical guide to best practices for online learning. This practical – and sometimes controversial – guide provides many case studies, examples, and suggestions to discuss from a wide variety of successful online courses.

Facilitator: Karen Skibba, Learning Technology Center

Sessions Scheduled: Six Wednesdays from 12:00pm - 1:00pm: 9 & 23 September; 7 & 21 October; 11 November; 2 December.

Room: TBA

Tearing Down the Gates is a powerful indictment of American education that shows how schools, colleges, and universities exacerbate inequality by providing ample opportunities for advantaged students while shutting the gates on the poor – and even the middle class. At the heart of this book is a question of justice, and Sacks demands that we take a hard look at what equal opportunity really means in the United States today.

Facilitator: George Savage, Languages & Literatures Department

Sessions Scheduled: Five Mondays from 8:00am - 9:00am: 21 & 28 September; 5, 12 & 19 October.

Room: TBA

What makes a great teacher great? Who are the professors students remember long after graduation? This book club will utilize two sources in an exploration and discussion of best practices in higher education and college teaching. Bain’s book offers valuable answers for all educators, while the AAC&U'sLEAP report defines a set of educational practices that research has demonstrated have a significant impact on student success.

Facilitator: Seth Meisel, Chair, History Department

Sessions Scheduled: Six Mondays from 12:30pm - 1:30pm: 14 & 28 September; 12 & 26 October; 9 & 23 November.

Room: TBA