1. Course Design
The basic principles of good course design are the same whether the class is taught in person or remotely. Check out the Center for Teaching and Learning’s pointers on effective course design.
2. Accessibility
Not all of your students will have regular or reliable access to the internet, but all of them should be able to participate, contribute, and access course materials. You will need to figure out how to make it possible for all of your students to be engaged.
3. Synchronicity
When you do have live class sessions, it should be on the days and times indicated in the class schedule in order to avoid conflicts with other classes and students’ schedules. Remember to make recordings of these class sessions available so that students can access them later if they cannot participate live.
4. Structure
Online students need to be able to do more of the course work on their own. A clear course structure will help a lot with this. Provide study guides for the readings, scaffold assignments, give examples of past work, and make due dates easy to spot.
5. Communication
You will need to contact your students consistently and frequently. Send out regularly scheduled emails and hold virtual office hours. Make it a point to return graded work promptly. Create a class blog or chat where students can correspond with you and each other. Make sure that those who cannot attend live-streamed classes can get a hold of you and share thoughts with the other students.