The basics of delivering online education successfully

The basics of delivering online education successfully

RMIT University (Vietnam) Senior Lecturer Dr Pham Cong Hiep sheds some light on the pros and cons, as well as the preconditions to ensure the effectiveness of this delivery mode.

The biggest advantage of online delivery stems from the fact that all learning materials, questions, exams, and assessment data are stored in an online content management platform. Learners can easily access this content at any time and from anywhere.

Lectures are streamed live for students to join concurrently and also recorded for reference purposes afterwards. Depending on the number of participants, instructors and learners can interact with each other on the chosen platform.

RMIT University (Vietnam) School of Business & Management Senior Lecturer Dr Pham Cong Hiep, shares tips to successfully embrace online education.RMIT University (Vietnam) School of Business & Management Senior Lecturer Dr Pham Cong Hiep, shares tips to successfully embrace online education.

Such advantages allow students to catch up on their study even if they skip live lectures, and to review the lesson easily after class in case they couldn’t keep up with the lecture in real time.

However, online learning also has some disadvantages. Most notably, in an online learning environment, students will not be able to have in-person reminders or a strict timetable to follow. This can be a distraction for students who lack discipline or organisational skills.

The learning environment may also be unstable due to external factors such as a poor internet connection, low audio and visual quality, which can cause disruptions in communication.

Online learning can also be difficult in courses that require hands-on learning, or need specialised software or equipment.

Another drawback can be the lack of direct face to face classroom interaction among learners and teachers. A reduction in visible body language and facial expressions can make information delivery, comprehension checks and group activities more difficult.

At a minimum, online learning requires an internet-connected computer or smart device.At a minimum, online learning requires an internet-connected computer or smart device.
To overcome the lack of visual and sensory interaction, research has shown that teachers should consider three elements to ensure ‘online presence’, instructor presence, social presence and cognitive presence.
  • Instructor presence relates to a distinct teaching style or the sharing of information about one’s personality before the first lesson. The teacher should play a constructive role and connect the students through complementary activities, group questions, and ask for feedback both during and after class.
  • Social presence is about helping online learners feel connected to the whole group by trying to recreate a real-life environment, through interaction and discussion via video and instant messaging, or even breakout group discussions during a live lecture.
  • Cognitive presence refers to linking the online lecture content with students’ existing knowledge, helping them gain new information and understanding.

A good online presence will create an environment in which learners feel like they are actually communicating with real people and are cared for. This helps them connect with their teachers and peers just like in a face-to-face environment.

All classes at RMIT University have moved to online delivery mode following global campus closures.All classes at RMIT University have moved to online delivery mode following global campus closures.

In addition, teachers should consider these recommendations:

  • Carefully prepare class activities and supporting materials before and after the online lecture, so that the students can get familiar with the topic beforehand and foster their understanding after class
  • Check that the teaching tools and course materials are compatible with the online teaching software
  • To avoid interruptions, deliver lectures in a quiet and well-equipped classroom fit for the purpose
  • Use mobile audio and visual equipment so that there can be free movement instead of just seeing a close-up face.

For students, it is important to focus on the following:

  • Prepare adequate learning equipment such as a computer with relevant software, audio and video devices, as well as a high-speed internet connection
  • Prepare all the other essential items such as drinks, pens, and notebooks to avoid unnecessary movements
  • Find a suitable, quiet space that is unaffected by external elements
  • Be aware of online etiquette, e.g. mute the microphone when not talking, respond when asked, participate actively in discussions, notify others when leaving the session early etc.

Story: Dr Pham Cong Hiep

About the author

Dr Pham Cong Hiep is Senior Lecturer from the RMIT University (Vietnam) School of Business & Management. He has over 10 years of research and teaching experience in the fields of business technology, logistics management systems, and IT application in education.

21 April 2020

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