Building skills and expertise for using e-learning with adult ESL learners: Guiding principles in online ESL programming

The objective of this document is to provide support to ESL instructors and administrators undertaking to offer ESL programming online. This includes programming offered entirely online, and also applies equally to the online sections of a blended ESL offering. The intention of this document is to provide both specific guidelines and food for thought. Furthermore, this resource is intended to support instructional designers assisting in the online delivery of ESL programming for the first time, as it considers the specific requirements necessary for the teaching and learning of language.* This document is not intended to replace professional development in ESL e-learning; a reference guide is provided at the end to offer further opportunities for reading in this area. The guiding principles in this document were informed by a review of the extensive literature on best practices for e-learning and draws upon some milestone documents, including the Quality Standards brochure from eCampusAlberta, and the Canadian Recommended E-learning Guidelines (CanREGs). By aligning this work, with widely accepted principles of second language teaching and learning, these guiding principles aim to provide a mechanism for supporting, planning and evaluating the development and delivery of online ESL programming.

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