Course Description

NetCourse Instructional Methodologies (NIM) is designed to prepare face-to-face classroom teachers to become online course instructors with VHS. NIM will introduce the pedagogy, methodology, and moderation techniques each participant needs to effectively teach a VHS NetCourse. NIM gives the participant a chance to experience being a student in the same environment in which he or she will teach. Specific course concepts and elements that adhere to a general set of national NetCourse standards will be highlighted, and suggestions for incorporating similar elements into a participant's own online course will be made.

Learning Objectives

There are six overarching goals in NetCourse Instructional Methodologies. Participants will:

• learn how to foster community-building and create a warm, challenging environment for students;
• facilitate project-based and collaborative learning in an online course;
• learn how to promote an online dialogue to deepen the learning experience;
• specify learning objectives or outcomes for students, then design activities and assessments based on them;
• update an existing VHS course, modifying where needed to produce an interesting, challenging and rigorous NetCourse; and
• become comfortable with and adept at using Blackboard, and at teaching students to use it.

Participation Requirements

NIM is a 10-week NetCourse taken entirely over the Internet. NIM participants should expect approximately 10 hours of coursework per week. Participants are required to login and post in their class at least four times per week.

Available Courses

View the list of courses available for the next NIM session here: NIM Course List. If you do not see a course that interests you, please contact us to discuss course options.

Graduate Credit

This course is eligible for six graduate credits from Plymouth State University.

Apply to take NIM

Fully participating schools must choose a professional development option for their teachers. Schools interested in having their teachers teach an already developed VHS NetCourse should apply to take NIM.