"I recommend this book to two audiences: to new online teachers who want to generate thoughtful discussion in their courses, and to experienced online instructors who have not been satisfied with the degree to which students in their courses engage each other about the material they are studying." -- Online Cl@ssroom

'Tisha Bender stands alone in the pedagogy of on-line teaching and learning. She is a teachers' teacher who carries us into the deep waters of learning itself "positively inspirational". -- Kathleen Hull, New York University

Online teachers increasingly realize that they have to connect with their students as they would in face-to-face classes. They have to provide true opportunities for inspirational and meaningful learning, rather than a sterile experience of clicking within a labyrinth of links.

The author shows how she applies learning theories to online discussion-based courses. She presents a wealth of suggestions and techniques, illustrated by examples, for stimulating and managing online participation and improving teaching practices; and concludes with methods for assessing the efficacy of online courses.

is an Online Faculty Development Consultant, who has extensively trained online faculty at New York University, the SUNY Learning Network, New School Online University and Cornell University-ILR Extension, and is also an online instructor at Cornell and the New School.

"I recommend this book to two audiences: to new online teachers who want to generate thoughtful discussion in their courses, and to experienced online instructors who have not been satisfied with the degree to which students in their courses engage each other about the material they are studying.
In a chapter filled with imaginative strategies for learning in the online course, Bender describes how she and others have used debates, role playing in literary analysis, virtual field trips, guest "lecturers", writing games, journals, team teaching and other innovations. It is a fascinating and highly creative chapter that will give the teacher new to online learning lots of fodder for designing their courses and thinking through activities that will challenge students to learn in different ways. Bender gives enough information so that a novice can borrow her ideas and put them into practice. She also outlines a number of strategies for using the synchronous online tools ( real time "chat").
She believes adamantly in the feasibility of human connection in a text-based online class in which no one knows what anyone else "in class" looks or sounds like. It may be harder for some instructors to do so, but she shows convincingly how it can be done." -- Online Cl@ssroom

"Dr. Bender provides a timely, provocative and intelligent vehicle for considering deep questions about online teaching. Her writing is conceptually elegant, professionally revitalizing, and profoundly reflective of the process of online teaching. You'll no longer feel the same 'pedagogical loneliness' in cyberspace!" -- Diane Grodney, Clinical Associate Professor, New York University

"Tisha Bender stands alone in the pedagogy of on-line teaching and learning. She is a teachers' teacher who carries us beyond 'click-happy techies,' into the deep waters of learning itself. In these practical essays, Prof. Bender offers creative ideas for both new and experienced distance educators. Her subtle understanding of the challenges of on-line classrooms is positively inspirational." -- Kathleen Hull, Adj. Assoc. Prof. of the Humanities, New York University

"Anyone who needs to understand the components of teaching online will benefit from this book. Bender has extracted powerful strategies for online learning. A practical book that also gives her views on why learning can be effective online." -- Zane L. Berge, Department of Education, UMBC, Baltimore, and editor of "Sustaining distance training: Integrating learning technologies into the fabric of the enterprise" "In her new book Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory and Practice and Assessment, Tisha Bender discusses the human implications of teaching and learning through the Internet. According to the publisher, the author presents suggestions and techniques for effective online discussion and improved teaching practices. The book also includes a section about assessing the efficacy of online courses."--Jennifer Ames, Learning & Leading with Technology

"Bender examines the theory, practice, and assessment of discussion-based online teaching to enhance student learning. In the theory section, the author examines whether learning is dependent on both mind and body, the differences between space and place, and physical versus transactional distance. Learner and online setting characteristics highlight the importance of personalizing education and the need for rethinking theory for nonlinear learning. Practical applications resulting from the online requirement for active learning influence course design, faculty initiation of online courses, aspects of online communication, and innovative online teaching techniques. The author discusses the uses of both asynchronous online tools, such as threaded discussions and e-mail, and synchronous tools, chat rooms and virtual office hours for role-playing, group projects, and debates. Bender provides guidance for overcoming pedagogic loneliness, facilitating heated discussions, adjusting for gender and ethnic diversity, and responding to nonparticipating students and issues of academic integrity. Initial modeling for assessment of discussion-based learning lays a foundation for further reflection. The author concludes that 'online learning represents a significant paradigm shift in education today' and 'students today increasingly expect the availability of online educational opportunities.' Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." -- D. L. Stoloff, Eastern Connecticut State University in CHOICE

"Bender presents a multitude of ideas for course design and innovative online teaching techniques. Most of her suggestions are adaptations of successful classroom strategies, making this an ideal book for teachers who are just making the transition from face-to-face to online teaching. As one new to online instruction, as well as hybrid teaching for the benefit of extended discussion and group work out side of class, I found Bender's book both informational and beneficial to the furtherance of my thinking about how to bring the best of my classroom teaching to this technological extension for learning in the global village…I …recommend Bender's book as an addition to the professional library of anyone hoping to implement (or improve) online discussion-based teaching and learning."--Jamie Hylton, University of New England, in The American Journal of Distance Education

"It's numerous practical suggestions for creating and managing an exciting online learning experience make this a valuable reference for both experienced and novice educators."--Nursing Education Perspectives

"Bender's book attempts to both highlight and prevent problems facing instructors using online technology in their courses, whether those courses be totally online or hybrid (a combination of in-class and online components). The book is filled with information, examples and illustrations to aid instructors in planning, delivering, and evaluating the online components of their classes…This book is most appropriate for instructors who are new to using online technology to teach or supplement courses."--NACADA Journal