Nine Principles for Excellence in Web-based Teaching

Article Summary

Jim Henry and Jeff Meadows, “An absolutely riveting online course: Nine principles for excellence in web-based teaching,” Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology 34, no. 1 (2008), http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/179/177.

I came across this article the other day and although it is from 2008, I found that it is still a good reminder of the basics of what makes a great experience for students.

• Principle 1: The online world is a medium unto itself
• Principle 2: In the online world content is a verb.
• Principle 3: Technology is a vehicle, not a destination.
• Principle 4: Great online courses are defined by teaching, not technology.
• Principle 5: Sense of community and social presence are essential to online excellence.
• Principle 6: Excellence requires multiple areas of expertise.
• Principle 7: A great web interface will not save a poor course; but a poor web interface will destroy a potentially great course.
• Principle 8: Excellence comes from ongoing assessment and refinement.
• Principle 9: Sometimes the little extras go a long way.

Follow the link to read the full article and discover more details for each principle.

Nicole