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Tips, Tools, and Techniques To Transform Your Traditional In-Person Course To An Online Course

Engineering education has transformed from teacher-focused chalk and talk methodology to student-focused interactive, activity-based learning to foster collaboration, design innovation, and critical thinking skills. Technology has provided many tools and techniques to enhance student interaction and class participation in in-person courses. However, transforming a traditional in-person course into an online one is not a straightforward task, even with all the present technology. It requires a comprehensive redesigning of the course that includes course goals, learning objectives, assessment criteria, informative rubrics, topics schedule, and the technology's utilization to implement it.

This paper will present the crucial elements that one should consider in online courses, such as synchronous versus asynchronous, active learning and engagement in an online classroom, communication strategies, and assessment methodology. I will also discuss how institutions' learning management systems (LMS) can be utilized effectively along with the well-known productivity suites. Online class environments require extra effort to make students comfortable and encourage cooperation among classmates. The paper will analyze how the social presence of instructors and TAs with clear and prompt communication can help students. This paper will also review rational course policies that can help set a positive and supportive tone in online courses to foster teamwork and collaboration. Additionally, it will also discuss the techniques to engage students and enhance classroom interaction. Assessment is a vital aspect of the educational system to meet the learning objectives. This paper will analyze the various assessment methods for online education to ensure academic integrity against misconduct such as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized assistance. Moreover, online assessments must include comprehensive rubrics to inform students immediately about the goals of each task. Multiple feedback techniques such as communicating with students through rubrics and video mark-ups will be reviewed as methods to improve students' performance. This paper will also examine the technical and human resources required for effective teaching.