. 2022 Mar;51(1):568–585. doi: 10.1177/00472395221095169

Table 2.

Evidence Based Approach—Building Cognitive Presence in Online Classes.

Feature	Methods
Communication	Plan and begin your class with the end in mind. Clearly communicate expectations and learning outcomes/objectives of the class.
Mix of Assignments	Include variety of tasks and activities in classroom and provide options so students can pick and choose their own activity based on their interest.
Team work and discussions	Include team-based activities and encourage active discussions in classroom. Design discussion questions with your audience in mind, build connections with course content, and previously learned information.
Clear grading rubric and expectations	Use clear rubric to grade assignments and outline expectations for assignment and tasks early on the semester.
Respect diversity	Allow students with diverse perspectives to express their opinion freely and demonstrate support for their thoughts/views.
Make connections	Ensure that students are able to see clear connection between online class, course assignments and their field of work/expertise.
Invite Feedback	Ask students for feedback and make changes based on the feedback. Allow students to participate in sessions such as “how to improve course/class” via technology through zoom or adobe breakout sessions. Clearly communicate how changes were made based on the feedback received from students. Include examples of completed work so students are able to see what is expected of them.
Include examples	Include examples of completed work so students are able to see what is expected of them.