During the COVID crisis, many principals have encouraged (or even forced) their teachers to put courses online. But good classroom practice rarely translates seamlessly to online instruction. If our goal is effective student learning, then there are some vital points we need to keep in mind.

This article by Roger Schank outlines some of the pitfalls involved with putting courses online and discusses why we need to think through that process carefully. Schank has been a leading expert on online instruction since its infancy … not only in terms of research, but also through practical application. (He and his colleagues have built, and continue to build, online courses for major corporations … who care more about what actually works than esoteric learning theories.)

As Schank points out, “Learning something new is enjoyable. We revel in acquiring new skills. We like to show off what new things we can do. And it is fun!” Well-designed online courses can enhance that process and make learning both fun and meaningful.

I challenge you to read over Schank’s list of suggestions and compare them to your school’s online course offerings. Implementing even some of these ideas has the potential to transform online learning for your students.