Defining Effective Online Pedagogy

Abstract

More than 5.8 million students are currently enrolled in online courses; this equates to one in four higher education students taking an online course (OLC, 2016). With so many students enrolled in online education, it is imperative that institutions examine factors that lead to their success. This article summary provides a structure to think about instructional strategies, best practices, and online pedagogy as it applies to teaching. The authors offer a brief discussion of key contextual factors that may influence the generalizability of the online teaching suggestions provided throughout this special issue. In addition, the authors offer reflective questions to guide application of the instructional approaches discussed.