Table of Contents

Foreword, by Tina L. Heafner

Preface
Online Learning in Secondary Education: Proceeding With Caution
Why Secondary Teachers Should Consider Online Education
My Motivation for Writing This Book
Structure of the Book

Introduction
A (Brief) History of Distance Education in the United States
Online Learning in American Higher Education
Who Takes Online Courses in Higher Education, and How Have They Fared?
Where Did K-12 Online Learning Come From?
What We Currently Know About K-12 Online Learning
What Can We Learn From Research on K-12 Online Education?
Summary

Chapter One: Creating a Proper Infrastructure for Online Learning
Making the Move Online
How to Choose Which Courses Are Best Suited for Online Learning
Providing Students With Choices and Helping Ensure Their Success
Synchronous Versus Asynchronous Communication
Choosing a Learning Management System
Additional Infrastructure Issues Related to Online Courses
Summary

Chapter Two: Course Development
How to Create a Solid Course Structure
Establishing Effective Instructional Design in Online Courses
Summary

Chapter Three: Assessing Student Learning Online
How to Maximize the Power of the Internet
Tips for Creating Reliable and Accessible Assessments
Creating a Course Calendar for Assignments
Effective Online Assessments
Tips for Staying Organized While Grading
Providing Feedback Online
Summary

Chapter Four: Building Community in Online Courses
Teacher and Student Perceptions of Social Interaction Online
Strategies for Building Classroom Community
Fostering Relationships Between Teachers and Students
Summary

Chapter Five: Creating Substantive Asynchronous Discussions
A Case Study of Asynchronous Communication in a K-12 Online Course
Factors Leading to Unproductive Discussions
Lessons Learned
Summary

Chapter Six: Where Do We Go From Here?
The Importance of Online Professional Development
Creating Online Learning For All
Addressing Technological Inequities
Final Thoughts

References