In this unit, you’ll review the organization of discussion based online courses. Like face to face courses, online courses have structure and organization that can help you learn the content easier. Our discussion based model has a three tiered structure. In the first tier, you have readings and articles that provide you with information regarding the content of the unit. In this tutorial, we’ll use short videos and activities in place of more in-depth readings. The second tier involves content based peer discussions. This is the heart of the course as you discuss the content from the readings and think about how it fits into your present situation as an educator. In this tutorial, you’ll be asked simple discussion questions which you have the option of answering in the forums. This exercise is optional and you won’t get feedback from your instructor or classmates. However, your comments might help others taking this tutorial after you to gain better insight and you are encouraged to post your thoughtful comments in the discussion forum. The third tier involves an authentic project that asks you to apply what you are learning to something that you can use in your teaching practice. It may be a lesson plan, activity, or project that you design using the principles and ideas from the course. In this tutorial, there is no project assignment for you.