NC.EDUC-105 - Intro to Online Instruction - Alexa Dimakos

Introduction

I started my career at COC as an adjunct English instructor in 2009 and became a full time instructor in 2015.

I am currently the co-chair of the English department along with Erin Delaney.

I started teaching online in 2012 using learning management systems like WebCT and Blackboard. Over the course of several years, I've participated in many trainings associated with online learning and continue to hone my skills with each course I teach online or in a hybrid format.

This is my first time facilitating IOI, and I am excited to support you as you develop your online teaching skills through this course!

Course Description

IOI is one of the many courses offered through the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning. This course addresses the skills, theories, and best practices in online teaching and learning. The course will require reading course materials, participating in discussions and group activities, completing quizzes and creating your personal Canvas developmental shell to teach a 100% online or hybrid course.  

In this course, we will explore the application of learning theories for online learners; characteristics of online learners; differences between face-to-face and online learning; resources for online teaching and learning; best practices of effective online communication; and the nature of online assessments. The course is designed so that you will experience the various components of an online course from both student and instructor perspectives. In short, the course will assist participants in their quest to provide their students with an outstanding online learning experience.

You will find this IOI online class helpful if you:

• Wish to complete a portion of the Online Instructor Qualifications for teaching online at COC.
• Plan to teach (or are assigned) a 100% online or hybrid course and need help/guidance/ideas of how to translate your classroom presence and learning activities into cyberspace.
• Would like to add a DLA (distance learning addendum) to a course for your department and wonder how or whether it can successfully be taught online.
• Plan to supplement a traditional course with online teaching tools.

What to Expect in this Course

The IOI class is 5-week, 100% online, asynchronous--there are no required synchronous or live meetings. We do not meet in person or online via Zoom at any time.  Please note this course directs faculty to teach 100% online courses and hybrid only. Therefore, the Canvas shell you create, the assignments, your syllabus--everything, will be geared toward a 100% online course, not an OnlineLIVE or Zoom class.

We teach IOI just like a 100% online class at COC so that faculty can experience what a 100% online class should be like as they experience it from the student perspective. Because IOI mimics a typical 100% online class offered at COC, there are specific due dates, an orientation letter, a syllabus, discussions with instructor/student interaction, student-to-student interaction, assignments, evaluative grades and everyone in the course moves at the same pace, working on the same assignments within that week. Then we move on to the next topic.

It’s a real class in that faculty can opt to earn 2 units so it is taught like a real 100% online class. We work on one week of material at a time that opens on Sundays and there are due dates within that week. However, you can be working online at any hour of the day or night as long as you meet the posted due dates.

Types of Assessments

Inside our IOI class, there will be assignments, readings, assessments, group work and discussions. In addition to the IOI course, you will also build your own online course to use when you begin teaching online or hybrid courses. Thus, you will have two new Canvas shells: (think of a shell as a self-contained course) one is the main IOI shell, in which each of you are in the "Student" role. The other is your own IOI development shell, which you will see from the "instructor" perspective. This is the shell you will develop over the next 5 weeks. Your fellow participants will appear as students in the course, so that we can participate in and provide feedback as the course progresses.

At the end of the IOI course, you will have a developmental shell for a 100% online or hybrid course with each of the following: at least one comprehensive module with content, including a welcoming home page, discussion forum, 1 exam, a 1-2 minute captioned video for your course, syllabus for an online course, online orientation letter, a rubric attached to an assignment or discussion, and one assignment of your choice.

Textbook Information

There is no required textbook for the course. All course materials are located inside Canvas.

Other Relevant Course Information

Please look at the dates of the course carefully and compare it with your teaching load and personal responsibilities. If you believe that this may not be an opportune time to take this course, please consider dropping the class through MyCanyons in order to make room for your colleagues to take the course. Please note that a working knowledge of Canvas is recommended preparation for this course. There will also be Canvas tutorials and reminder tasks built within the orientation modules for beginning users to Canvas.

Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

• CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
• CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 06/19/2025 Sub#: 1942 Sub ID: 197118