Dialogues in Online Teaching

Meet our panelists of longtime online educators as they talk about community, opportunities and challenges in the remote learning environment. Panelists have a wide range of backgrounds, from teaching in elementary school to serving as tenured faculty at the university level.

Read bios of all the panelists.

Hungry for more? John Graves, Ed.D, assisted by Jessi Anderson, Ph.D., will deliver the online non-credit course, Advanced Online Teaching, from October 5 to November 6, 2020.

"Dialogues in Online Teaching" is a collaboration between Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO) and the Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) program.

Creating Online Community Expert Panel

You might be used to connecting with your students when face-to-face, but how do you go about creating a feeling of community in a virtual setting? Join John Graves, Lisa Brown, Jess Rowell and Walt Woolbaugh as they discuss the challenges of fostering connections online. (24 min)

Online Discussions Expert Panel

What’s the value of online discussions? How can you preserve the value of face-to-face discussions when moving to an online format? Jessi Anderson, Walt Woolbaugh, John Graves and Jim Vanides discuss. (35 min)

Big Rock Topics in Online Learning

What are the key ideas--or "Big Rock" topics--that teachers need to keep in mind when moving to an online environment? Nick Lux, Lisa Brown, John Graves and John Vanides identify and discuss the "Big Rocks." (32 min)

Organizing an Online Class

As you put together an online course, what fundamentals of organization do you need to think about as an instructor? Join Lisa Brown, Jessi Anderson, Jim Vanides and John Graves as they highlight the top organizational elements. (28 min)

Interview with a Passive Online Learner

Hear a conversation between a reluctant online participant and her instructor, whose actions helped to encourage her involvement in the course. (8 min)

Panelists

John Graves

John Graves is the associate director of Montana State University’s Master of Science in Science Education program. He has been working in online education and teaching online since 1994.

Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown teaches blended online/face-to-face classes with Gallatin College and is a former public school teacher.

Jess Rowell

Jess Rowell is a 6th grade teacher in Montgomery County Schools in Maryland and has an extensive background in online curriculum.

Walt Woolbaugh

Walt Woolbaugh has been working with online learning since 1994 and is a full time middle school teacher.

Jessi Anderson

Jessi Anderson is the manager of learning and development at Better Lesson, training teachers and coaches with online instruction.

Jim Vanides

Jim Vanides teaches a conceptual physics course on science and sound for elementary school teachers. He has been teaching online for MSU for 18 years.

Nick Lux

Nick Lux is a faculty member in the Department of Education at MSU. His work focuses on educational technology.