Checklist for Online Interactive Learning (COIL)

Have you ever felt disconnected from your students in your online classes?

I believe that’s a ‘yes’ for most online teachers, right? Then COIL is the solution for you.

What’s COIL?

The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration has published a Checklist for Online Interactive Learning (COIL) to be used as a guideline for online faculty evaluation, emphasizing the importance of Pelz‘s principles of engagement, interaction, and presence.

What’s Pelz’s Principle?

Bill Pelz, a Professor of Psychology at Herkimer County Community College has shared his three ―Principles of Effective Online Pedagogy‖ in 2004 which are the social, cognitive and teaching presence.

Applying these three principles would:

1. engage student in content.

2. promote student-teacher and student-student interaction, and

3. strive for presence

That’s why online courses should be designed to require students to engage themselves in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation as part of their course and program requirements.

Here’s your COIL for better engagement and communication with your students during online courses:

Source: Hanover Research Council: Best Practices in Online Teaching Strategies