Wednesday, September 14, 2011

September 14, 2011

Good Afternoon Online Instructors,

This will be my last blog post for Early Fall Quarter 2011, but I will start back up again during week one of Fall Quarter 2011.  As such, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of the many resources and instructional tips I've shared with you in the past as you prepare your fall quarter courses.  If you haven't tried a new course enhancement before, now is a great time to start!  Or, if you've added things in, I encourage you to try out yet another enhancement or resource during fall quarter. 

If you look at the right hand side of the blog you will find a list of all of the different topics I have mentioned in this blog.  Simply click on the item that sounds interesting to you to learn more about that particular resource!  I encourage you to give one or more a try in your fall course(s).  (And don't forget to let me know how it goes :))

Finally, I'd like to take this chance to also ask you what you'd like to learn more about.  Drop me an email and let me know if there are certain topics you'd like to see covered in the blog during fall quarter or if you have a tip or trick that might be very beneficial to share with other online instructors.

Thanks and have a great rest of Early Fall quarter.  I'll be blogging again in fall :)

Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

September 7, 2011

Good Afternoon Online Instructors,

It is crazy to think it is already September!  I sent my oldest off on the bus yesterday for his first day of Kindergarten so I guess fall is "unofficially" upon us (even if the calendar says otherwise).  With the onset of fall it also means the coming to the end of Early Fall quarter, which is a very busy time for our students as they are finishing up research papers/projects and preparing for final exams.  As they are working on these course aspects, I encourage you to share with them this Smarthinking.com tutorial.  I know I've mentioned Smarthinking.com before, but it truly is a great resource and something all students can benefit from, especially at this time of the quarter, so it begs a repeat.

If you have any questions on this, please let me know.

Thanks,
Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist