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Science Coordinator Uses Virtual Office for Online Teaching

(Editor's note: Steven Koether is Foundations of Science (FOS) Coordinator/Instructor in the College of Science and Engineering Technology. He uses the "virtual office" model he describes below to assist him in conducting online courses.)


Effectively using a virtual office in my online courses saves me a lot of time, effort, and energy throughout the semester. A virtual office is essentially a discussion board, but the way it is implemented determines its usefulness and effectiveness. I set up the virtual office to serve as a place to help students find answers and information for day-to-day coursework without having to send me an email and waiting for a response.

Keother_Studio_webThe first time I taught, I didn’t have a virtual office, and I felt like I spent every waking moment answering student emails! I would receive random emails at all hours of the day, and I needed to consolidate the lines of communication. 

Not only did incorporating a virtual office save me time, but it also made my students more accountable, and helped build a community where they feel comfortable answering each other’s questions and hosting discussions.

A virtual office is a different form of communication, and it serves as a way to implement that first or last five minutes of class when students are able to openly ask questions. It gives students a way to "raise their hands" in an online course.

In my syllabus, I set aside one hour three to four times a week and use that time to check activity or answer questions. It’s made my academic life easier and has helped build camaraderie and community within the online classroom.


Contact Your Instructional Designer

For more information on how to set up your own virtual office, please contact your instructional designer. We’ll be glad to assist!