Online Resources
Preparing to Teach Online:
Strategies and Resources
Preparation is the key to successful online teaching. Following the guidelines in this section will provide you with the tools and techniques that are critical to the development and presentation of an effective online course. You will also be able to access tips, articles, and links to FSU administrative policies, guidelines, and best practices.
In addition, individual, personalized assistance is available by contacting a course development consultant at ODL.
Design and develop an online course
- Read about best practices.
- Develop your course syllabus.
- Write learning-outcome statements.
- Create tests and assessments.
- Develop learning activities such as
- Evaluate your syllabus with this checklist.
Teach online with Blackboard
- Request a course site. (Requires Bb log in.)
- Copy content from an old site to a new one.
- Access the Blackboard Users Support tab. (Requires login.)
Assess students' work
- Develop appropriate assessments of students' work.
- Create or modify online tests in Blackboard.
- Create or modify online surveys in Blackboard
- Administer assessments through proctored testing.
- Evaluate papers for potential plagiarism with SafeAssign.
Manage the Grade Center
- Manage students' test and assessment results with the Grade Center.
Communicate with your students
- In Instruction at FSU, you can find ideas and strategies for effective communication with your students in these areas:
- Chapter 4 - Knowing Your Students
- Chapter 5 - Managing Students & the Classroom Climate
- Instruction at FSU (complete publication).
- Within your Blackboard course site these features support communication:
Manage your online course mentors or TAs
- Review the roles of instructor and mentor.
Assess textbook affordability: Reducing Textbook Costs
The links below are a collection of information resources dealing with issues related to textbook affordability and selection and FSU Administrative Polices on Teaching.
- FSU Administrative Policies on Teaching describes polices related to FERPA, sexual harassment and battery, and teaching policies.
- Strategies for Reducing Textbook Costs. This printable brochure summarizes The State of Florida Board of Governors' for reducing textbook costs to students.
- Textbook Adoption Regulation. This document presents the statute governing Textbook Adoption within the State University System.
- Textbook Adoption Suggestions. This document presents suggestions on how universities can reduce or minimize textbook costs (The State University System Task Force on Textbook Affordability).
- FSU Administrative Policies on Teaching describes polices related to FERPA, sexual harassment and battery, and teaching policies.
