Just as a teacher leads a face-to-face classroom experience, so must a teacher lead in an online learning class. For students interested in taking an online class, consider how involved the teacher will be in the process, as many students prefer teachers who are accessible regardless of the minimal face-to-face time. According to Leslie Bowman, writing on the Teachers.net website, "Online teachers need to encourage interaction, group cohesiveness, and communication among students and between student and teacher." A teacher's involvement can dramatically alter the student experience in an online learning course, and the more involved a teacher is, the more likely students are to succeed and learn.
While teacher involvement is crucial to the eLearning checklist, so is student involvement. Bowman asserts, "the student's responsibilities include reading the assigned information (text and online), conducting further research as required, posting relevant and meaningful answers in the discussions, reflecting on classmates' answers, further exploration of issues related to classmates' responses, and contributing to the discussions by commenting, questioning, reflecting and evaluating the responses." For a successful eLearning course, both the student and teacher must participate, engage and interact.
When assessing the checklist for successful eLearning courses, the types and quantities of assignments should be considered. According to Greg Kearsley, writing on the website A Guide to Online Education, a "common misconception is that online classes will be easy -- easier than conventional classes. But almost all participants report that they find online classes much more work -- and much more rewarding -- than traditional courses they have taken. This has to do with the amount of thought about the subject matter that results from online discussions. Such classes also require the self-discipline to do the preparation required for online participation and activities -- homework is homework, whether online or offline!" Kearsley asserts that class assignments and related discussions form important elements in the checklist for evaluating an eLearning course because a student and instructor must consider the amount of time consumed by assignments and discussions. A reasonable balance between assignments and discussions will promote a comprehensive and varied educational format.
Evaluating an eLearning course requires assessing the use of technology as a means to facilitate communication. The most successful eLearning courses utilize both asynchronous and synchronous communication tools ranging from instant messaging to message board technologies. A combination of technology that promotes both types of communication is essential to a meaningful online learning experience because it presents students with multiple ways to interpret and learn content. While some students may find immediate feedback vital to the learning process, other students may learn better by reading old discussion posts and using the posts as an anchor to come back to throughout the course. A varied use of technology ensures all student needs are met.