Tips to increase success for teaching online: communication!

Advancement in technology and the World Wide Web have allowed student learning capabilities to expand to unexpected horizons. The majority of today's younger students are computer literate; therefore, new styles of teaching and learning are rapidly developing. Online education is in demand, and universities are rushing into the competitive e-learning marketplace for students. Currently, 6000 accredited college courses are offered online, and 84% of 4-year universities are predicted to offer online courses by 2002. Faculty are expected to expand their teaching styles to include teaching online courses. It is estimated that only 10% to 15% of universities have avoided online programs. Some faculty resist this teaching strategy because of problems encountered when teaching online. Few articles address issues to overcome problems in online education in the nursing literature. This article provides tips on getting a course up and running using the acronym COMMUNICATION. Faculty can use these recommendations to assist them in the development of their online courses.