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On one Wednesday afternoon, some of my friends who teach or design online courses in other institutions were talking about the books you may recommend to novice instructors in online teaching. This free eBook, Teaching in a Digital Age, was recommended as a good starting point for folks who just start their teaching journey in an online setting (see Figure 1). Instead of providing theoretical and conceptual information, author tries to use a simple language and a couple of examples to explain some important knowledge about online teaching and learning. Below, some insights are recommended to novice instructors who are in different stages for online teaching to use this book.

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Figure 1. Cover of Teaching in a Digital Age

Scenario 1: Instructors who never teach or take any online courses

For instructors who never teach or take any online courses, Chapter 1 is definitely one chapter you never want to miss. In this chapter, author mentions that the changes in social and economic aspects bring impacts into education. A reader can learn the fundamental change in education. Also, the skills required in a digital age and ways that technology can be used in teaching and learning are discussed in this chapter. This chapter can give you an overview of digital age in education.

Scenario 2: I am going to teach an online course next semester, but I have taught face-to-face (f-2-f) courses for more than 5 years. Currently, I am still planning my online course by revising my syllabus used in f-2-f courses.

Chapter 3 can wrap up some of your knowledge about a campus-based learning environment. Chapter 4 can provide an overview of used online learning and teaching methods. For example, lecture has been one essential component in a classroom-based teaching method. In an online setting, for example, technology allows instructors to record a classroom lecture and make the lecture video available online for repeat viewings (see Figure 2). Chapter 6 and 7 are another two chapters you must read. In Chapter 6, author explains some insights and differences about technology used in education. For instance, the definition of media is provided and its use in educational purposes are discussed. Also, each pedagogy used with different media is explored in Chapter 7.

Figure 2. Lecture Video

Figure 2. Lecture Video

Scenario 3: I am designing and developing my online course now. This course will be launched next semester.

Chapter 8 is one chapter for you as an instructor as well as designer for your online course to think about some factors influencing the use of media. These factors include student, ease of use, cost, teaching functions, interaction, organizational issues, networking, and security and privacy. These factors can can assist you to reconsider your media selection in an online course (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. Factors Influencing Media Selection

Figure 3. Factors Influencing Media Selection