Product Description

1999 Winner of the Philip E. Frandson Award for Literature in Continuing Higher Education, from the University Continuing Education Association

"A must read for anyone involved in or considering involvement in online, networked learning."
--Donald J. MacIntyre, president, The Fielding Institute

"A thorough overview of the online course process, including course selection, design, and evaluation, and many of the technical issues that affect the entire process."
--Kathleen M. Rose, distance education specialist, University of California Extension Online

Written for faculty, instructors, and trainers in any distance learning environment, Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace shows how to create a virtual classroom environment that helps students excel academically, while fostering a sense of community. This practical, hands-on guide is filled with illustrative case studies, vignettes, and examples from a wide variety of successful online courses. The authors offer proven strategies for handling challenges that include:

• Engaging students with subject matter
• Accounting for attendance and participation
• Working with students who do not participate
• Understanding the signs of when a student is in trouble
• Building online communities that accommodate personal interaction

Based on many years of work in information systems and over five years of experience in online distance education, Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt share insights designed to guide readers through the steps of computer-mediated course design and implementation.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #400085 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-17
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"An incredibly practical guide." (Techweek)

"The authors point out many ways that online learners share in the responsibility for building and maintaining a sense of community." (Teaching Theology and Religion, 2/02)

Review
"A must read for anyone involved in or considering involvement in online, networked learning. Based on solid experience, the authors address the key issue of how to build and sustain learning communities in a networked environment--a subject too often ignored or slighted." —Donald J. MacIntyre, president, The Fielding Institute

"This book's practical approach and illustrative models will appeal to those seeking concrete guidance in every aspect of online course development. Palloff and Pratt present a thorough overview of the online course process, including course selection, design, and evaluation, and many of the technical issues that affect the entire process." —Kathleen M. Rose, distance education specialist, University of California Extension Online

"Colleges and universities are rushing into distance learning like lemmings, often without giving it serious thought. They should read this book if they truly want to realize its potential." —Efrem G. Mallach, associate professor, Department of Manufacturing and Management Information Systems, College of Management, University of Massachusetts at Lowell

From the Inside Flap
"A must read for anyone involved in or considering involvement in online, networked learning. Based on solid experience, the authors address the key issue of how to build and sustain learning communities in a networked environment—a subject too often ignored or slighted."—Donald J. MacIntyre, president, The Fielding Institute"This book's practical approach and illustrative models will appeal to those seeking concrete guidance in every aspect of online course development. Palloff and Pratt present a thorough overview of the online course process, including course selection, design, and evaluation, and many of the technical issues that affect the entire process."—Kathleen M. Rose, distance education specialist, University of California Extension Online"Colleges and universities are rushing into distance learning like lemmings, often without giving it serious thought. They should read this book if they truly want to realize its potential."—Efrem G. Mallach, associate professor, Department of Manufacturing and Management Information Systems, College of Management, University of Massachusetts at Lowell Written for faculty, instructors, and trainers in any distance learning environment, Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace shows how to create a virtual classroom environment that helps students excel academically, while fostering a sense of community. This practical, hands-on guide is filled with illustrative case studies, vignettes, and examples from a wide variety of successful online courses. The authors offer proven strategies for handling challenges that include:

• Engaging students with subject matter
• Accounting for attAndance and participation
• Working with students who do not participate
• Understanding the signs of when a student is in trouble
• Building online communities that accommodate personal interaction

Based on many years of work in information systems and over five years of experience in on-line distance education, Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt share insights designed to guide readers through the steps of computer-mediated course design and implementation.

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Customer Reviews

Paloff and Paloff
Are plain boring. . .about all I can say. Much of their theories are dated - I'm sure there's a newer text on online teaching!

Interested in VCoPs? Buy this book!
This book is methodologically sound AND useful. Suggestions and advices are backed up by literature, it's not just the usual collection of "expert opinions". By the same token, suggestions and advices are sound and practical, not just impractical "erudite hypotheses". Perfect for pracademics!

It applies to virtual communities of practice
The material in this book can be applied to increase the productivity of virtual communities of practice. It is a book I recommend to those who make a living in the world of knowledge management.