Book Review: Lessons from the Virtual Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching

Abstract

Reviews the book, Lessons from the Virtual Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching (2nd Edition) by Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt (2013). In this book the author provides guidelines and suggestions not only for the K-12 sector, but also higher education relating to the challenges in the online environment including: assessing student needs, identifying faculty training issues, and addressing classroom dynamics. The authors offer examples from genuine online courses integrating feedback from instructors and students. The authors in Lessons from the Virtual Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching provide a phenomenal resource for institutions that want to create quality online learning. The authors not only identify and clarify online learning issues, pitfalls, and concerns extensively, but they also provide practical solutions based on research-based best practices. The reality based context and tone of the text forces institutions to review past and current practices with a reflective eye and not a passing glance. The supporting exhibits, charts, and related rubrics can be adapted to almost any institution and the appendices at the end of the book, particularly the 'Sample Training Guide for Faculty,' are worthwhile and relevant to the ongoing development of distance learning. This book is an invaluable tool for novice institutions or for institutions that have been involved in distance learning for many years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)